It makes sense to introduce Texas students to important moral and religious texts that have shaped our history and culture. But in a public school setting, it’s important that those studies are not limited to a single tradition.
State officials have proposed an expansive list of books and stories that could become required reading in English classes from kindergarten through 12th grade. The list includes excerpts from the Bible but no other major religious works.
The State Board of Education voted in January to table discussion about the list and may take it up again in April. One board member proposed a revised, shortened version that retains many biblical stories, according to the news outlet Community Impact. Board members should ensure any final list accommodates a wider array of faith traditions.
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Moral instruction should be a part of a child’s classroom education. Our schools need to do more than fill students’ heads with facts and formulas. Developing well-rounded and grounded individuals is important, too.
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Some of the biblical stories that appear on the proposed list, including “The Parable of the Prodigal Son,” “Jonah and the Whale” and “The Eight Beatitudes,” have influenced secular ideas and ethics, teaching important lessons about basic morality.
The problem here is that other major religious texts are not included on the list. Under the First Amendment, public schools can’t advocate for any particular religious tradition.
Some of the biblical entries on the list reference the Hebrew Bible. State officials said the story “The Hare in the Moon” is rooted in the Buddhist tradition, the Houston Chronicle reported. But that hardly approaches the degree of religious diversity needed for Texas to argue that it’s staying neutral on religion.
Why not include other major religious texts? The list could add excerpts from the Jataka Tales, the Bhagavad Gita or the Analects of Confucius.
Though we imagine the idea would not be well received in our state’s increasingly anti-Muslim atmosphere, there should be space for excerpts from the Quran, too.
With all of that said, the list of required reading is a good idea in itself. Presenting students with literature that encourages them to think about complex ideas is important, and many of the titles included can help them do that. For example: "Charlotte’s Web," "A Wrinkle in Time," "Adventures of Don Quijote" and "Beowulf."
What’s disappointing is that state officials have once again sullied a good idea with unnecessary baggage. By confining the religious texts on the list to one tradition, they expose their true intent, which is the promotion of a specific faith in schools that serve children from all religious backgrounds, and some who don’t follow any tradition at all.
America has long prized the idea that the government establishes no state religion and compels no one to worship in any particular way. It’s embedded in our Constitution. Public schools are responsible for presenting religious material in a neutral way. By excluding religious texts outside of the Bible, this list of proposed reading material fails to achieve that.
