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Published on January 08, 2025
Conroe School District Weighs Controversial Bible-Based Curriculum Amidst Community PushbackSource: Google Street View

In an increasingly contentious debate, the Conroe Independent School District is considering the implementation of a Bible-based curriculum amidst community pushback. The curriculum, known as Bluebonnet Learning, would impact English and language arts instruction for kindergarten through fifth-grade students. "It's just injecting religion where it should not be," student Lynn Greaves expressed at a recent district meeting, as obtained by KHOU.

The Texas State Board of Education approved this curriculum, aiming to launch it by August 2025. Republican Board member Audrey Young defended the curriculum to KHOU, stating, "It's written to support literature, not to teach religion." Schools opting to use it are set to receive additional funding but must carefully navigate to not exclusively cater to religious-based teachings in a public educational context.

As reported by CBS News, the initiative follows a broader trend in Republican-led states introducing more religious teachings into public education. Over 150 testimonies were heard by the State Board of Education from teachers and parents, with opinions sharply divided on the matter. Some stakeholders highlighted concerns that a Christian-focused curriculum could sideline students of other faiths, while supporters lauded the educational values of the religious material.

The curriculum is optional for schools, but those that adopt it must address concerns about mixing religious content with public education, which some critics argue challenges the idea of secular learning. The program is being tested in certain districts, and its statewide impact is still uncertain. Supporters, including Governor Greg Abbott, say it aims to highlight the historical and cultural influence of religious texts in literature, as noted by CBS News.