AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas State Board of Education is considering changes to the state’s high school social studies curriculum this week, with board members and community groups debating how schools should teach religion, American history and civic heritage.
The board could give final approval to the proposed standards later this week. The debate follows the board’s approval in June of revised social studies standards for kindergarten through eighth grade.
Religion emerged as a major issue during Monday’s discussion.
Under the proposed high school standards, students would study early Islam in the context of what the draft describes as “the Prophet Mohammed’s brutal military campaigns against Jewish and Christian tribes.”
The proposed curriculum also calls for students to examine how biblical imagery and principles of equality and justice from the Declaration of Independence appear in Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech.
Board members who support the changes said the curriculum should address the historical influence of the Bible and Christianity on the United States and Texas.
“We must teach the historical influence of the Bible and Christian values on America, the founding of America and Texas,” said Julie Pickren, who represents District 7. She said schools can teach the Bible as a historical text without establishing a religion.
Board member Brandon Hall, who represents District 11, said students should understand their American and Texas heritage.
Pickren also criticized approaches she associated with Marxism and said schools should not teach students to resent the United States.
Opponents urged the board to revise language they said could portray Islam negatively and encourage religious stereotyping.
Akeela Kongdara of Asian Texans for Justice said portraying one religion as violent and another as virtuous could contribute to stereotyping and identity-based bullying in schools.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations also opposed the proposed standards. Sameeha Rizvi, the group’s Texas legislative affairs and legislative manager, said the organization wants the curriculum to address different religions and cultures fairly.
“We oppose that amendment for the reason that if we are going to talk about one faith and undermine one faith, then we need to look at all faiths,” Rizvi said.
The proposed standards have drawn broader criticism from educators and civil rights groups over the role of religion and the representation of diverse communities in Texas and world history.
The board approved revised K-8 social studies standards in June. Those standards use a chronological approach to history and include a required reading list containing Bible stories.
The board delayed action on several high school courses while members continued discussions about communism, civics, financial literacy and religious content.
If approved, the revised high school social studies standards would begin phasing into Texas classrooms in the 2030-31 school year.