Recently, I traveled to Austin, Texas, to testify against a new curriculum proposed by the Texas Education Agency (TEA), led by Commissioner Mike Morath, who was appointed by Governor Greg Abbott. Morath has refused to disclose the writers of this $84 million curriculum, citing Abbott’s 2022 renewed COVID-19 declaration, which eliminated the need for the TEA to maintain a paper trail. As a result, Texans may never learn who authored the curriculum.
The proposed curriculum incorporates lessons and Scripture from the Protestant Christian Bible, presenting these stories as literal historical truths. In my testimony before the Board of Education, I stated, “It’s clear in reading the curriculum that those who wrote it have a distinctly fundamentalist Christian view of both the Bible and American history. I don’t want my 8-year-old or anyone else’s child indoctrinated into that worldview.”
Majority Voices Opposed
I was not alone in expressing these concerns; 84% of the 103 individuals who signed up to testify opposed the curriculum, with 87 speaking against it and only 16 in support. One of the first speakers, Susan Nayak, shared her emotional response: “I strongly oppose adopting this curriculum. It was appalling to go through it.” She highlighted a particularly troubling instance where Martin Luther King Jr.’s Letter from Birmingham Jail was used to suggest that “there must be law and order even if the laws are unjust,” before transitioning into a lesson on the biblical book of Daniel. This prompted a board member to comment, “Not appropriate for children. Wow.”
Concerns of Parental Rights
Several Jewish speakers voiced their objections to a recommended activity that accompanied the curriculum’s story of Queen Esther. This activity misrepresents the biblical narrative and involves a game of “casting lots” to decide students’ fates. Kimmie Fink, an educator and military wife, passionately testified, “We do not need nor do we want our children to receive biblical instruction in their public school. … Elementary children are too young to distinguish between secular material and faith claims.”
During the hearing, there were attempts by some board members to silence their colleagues, highlighting the political tensions at play. For example, moderate Republican Evelyn Brooks was criticized for asking too many clarifying questions, prompting her colleague Patricia Hardy to advocate for her.
Questionable Educational Practices
Cindi Castilla, a member of the right-wing Texas Eagle Forum, testified in support of the curriculum, claiming it is “a game changer” despite lacking an educational background. She argued that references to faith among the nation’s founders are historical facts, disregarding the implications these teachings might have on students’ interpretations.
Board member Staci Childs raised concerns about the curriculum promoting the idea that success requires faith in God, to which Castilla replied that parents are responsible for their children’s religious education. However, Childs and fellow board member Rebecca Bell-Metereau questioned how this approach aligns with the Establishment Clause, which mandates the separation of church and state.
Alarm Over Antisemitism
Rabbi Nancy Kasten pointed out that the curriculum contains antisemitic tropes, including portrayals of Jews as antagonists in biblical narratives. When board member Tom Maynard dismissed these concerns as historical facts, he demonstrated the deep-rooted issues within the discussions around this curriculum.
The Implications for Democracy
As Christian nationalists increasingly embed themselves in educational institutions, it’s imperative for those committed to a pluralistic democracy to push back against these narratives. The situation in Texas is a stark reminder of the dangers posed by the intertwining of religious fundamentalism and public education.
In the words of George Orwell in 1984: “Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.” It is crucial that we remain vigilant in safeguarding educational integrity and ensuring religious liberty for all.
