Texas Board Approves Controversial Reading List for Schools
The Texas State Board of Education has endorsed a new reading list for public schools, mandating texts such as the New Testament and Charles Dickens’ “Great Expectations.” This decision, impacting over 5 million students, is scheduled to take effect in 2030.
In a 9-5 vote that highlighted ongoing debates about religion in education, the board, dominated by Republicans, approved the reading list. This follows Texas’ earlier mandate requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in classrooms.
Opponents have voiced concerns over the inclusion of Bible stories, arguing it limits teachers’ curricular freedom. Nevertheless, educators can still supplement the list with additional texts.
Alyse Dent, an English teacher from Dallas, expressed mixed feelings: “I don’t have a problem reading about David and Goliath because I believe in those stories,” she said. “But if I’m reading to one of my students — they’re Muslim or they’re atheist — I can say all day long, ‘Well, we’re teaching a theme, we’re teaching symbolism,’ but they’re hearing, ‘This is a Bible story. We’re talking about God.’”
Conservative Push for Religious Elements in Curriculum
Proponents of the list argue it reflects the nation’s Judeo-Christian heritage. Mandy Drogin from the Texas Public Policy Foundation stated that these works offer insights into “human nature, virtue, liberty, and civic responsibility.”
Texas has been at the forefront of integrating religious elements into education. It permits public schools to hire chaplains and offers an elective Bible-based curriculum. Brooke Mazel from Lubbock, supporting the list, commented on America’s “unwavering Christian values.”
The 2023 state law required at least one literary work per grade, but the adopted list includes approximately 200 texts, incorporating essays, books, and Bible excerpts.
Antero Garcia of the National Council of Teachers of English noted the uniqueness of Texas’ list, given its religious content. Similarly, Kasey Meehan of PEN America remarked on its distinctiveness.
Variety of Texts Included
The reading list features biblical stories like “David and Goliath” for younger students and New Testament passages by fourth grade. Third-graders will read E.B. White’s “Charlotte’s Web.” High school students will study Bible passages alongside literary classics like Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice.”
Parents can exempt their children from classes that conflict with personal beliefs, as allowed by Texas law.
Debate Over Representation and Diversity
Critics argue the list lacks diversity. Shakespeare’s “The Tragedy of Julius Caesar” is paired with Margaret Thatcher’s eulogy for Ronald Reagan, reflecting conservative influences. Chanea Bond, an English teacher in Fort Worth, stated that while the list covers classic literature, it is “very old and very white,” lacking representation of diverse voices.
