 The decision by the Texas State Board of Education to offer the optional Bluebonnet curriculum, rich in Christian imagery and tropes, is a kind of Rorschach test. Those more sensitive to the “no establishment” clause of the First Amendment see it as foisting one religion on an increasingly diverse population of students. Those who relish the “free exercise” clause see it as exposing all children to common cultural touchstones in what was until recently an overwhelmingly Christian nation. Religion has undeniably shaped American society, from the Puritans’ foundational settlements to the Great Awakening’s moral fervor and the influence of Presbyterianism on the structure of the U.S. Constitution. In the 19th and 20th centuries, churches played key roles in the abolitionist and civil rights movements. Including the lore of these movements in history classes enriches students’ understanding of the nation’s development and diverse social fabric. “In my view, these stories are on the education side and are establishing cultural literacy,” said Will Hickman, a Republican who sits on the Texas Board of Education told The Texas Tribune. He has a point. Common phrases like “pearls before swine,” “turn the other cheek,” and “salt of the earth,” are sayings of Jesus that have become cultural bywords in ordinary American conversation. More difficult questions arise when religious content goes beyond lessons about history and literature. One Bluebonnet lesson about fairness, for example, includes the story of The Good Samaritan, Jesus’ parable about helping people across barriers of background and religion. That story too is an important part of American moral culture. But some Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, and Hindu parents might see such moral parables not as helping everyone share a common culture, but as an effort by conservative Christians to keep Christianity at the center of American identity. It’s the kind of issue that deserves to be discussed among all concerned stakeholders, at the local level, with people on all sides doing their best to understand others’ concerns and to develop approaches that are as inclusive as possible and that avoid unnecessary offense to their neighbors’ sensibilities. Wherever one comes down in that debate, one inclusive, and therefore laudable, approach to religious expression is to expand school choice, which Texas is ready to embrace. Following the recent election, the Texas legislature now has a majority prepared to implement a universal school voucher program for the nation’s second most populous state. Such a program would give parents the freedom to select schools that align with their values, whether they seek religious or secular instruction. Gov. Greg Abbott is championing this initiative, recognizing the growing demand for educational options. The foundation for this shift was laid by the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 decision in Carson v. Makin. The Court ruled that if a state offers funding to private secular schools, it cannot exclude religious schools. This principle ensures families can choose schools – religious or secular – that best meet their needs. In Texas, vouchers will allow children to attend quality private schools as long as they meet state standards in core subjects like science, civics, and math. Religious schools, unlike public institutions, can easily integrate faith-based teachings into their curricula. Without generating internal controversy, for example, they may display and teach such things as the Ten Commandments as part of their broader mission. Far from undermining pluralism, this model respects it, allowing families to pursue education aligned with their beliefs while maintaining accountability to state standards in key subjects. This seems to us the better way to respect both diversity and the maximum freedom of expression under the First Amendment, and in so doing allowing parents to share their values – religious or not – across generations. Comments are closed.
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