A decision by the Texas education panel to make Bible stories mandatory for all five million public school students in the state has sparked a row about separation of church and state. The required readings, which include passages about Adam and Eve and from the book of Exodus, where God speaks to Moses through a burning bush, are set to become part of the curriculum in 2030.
The Republican-controlled State Board of Education approved the measure in a 9-5 vote, despite criticism from education and civil liberties groups. Supporters of the move argue that schoolchildren should learn about Judeo-Christian traditions, which they claim were essential to the nation's founding.
However, critics argue that the new reading requirements infringe on religious freedoms and lack diversity. Felicia Martin, executive director of Texas Freedom Network, a left-wing activist group, said that the reading list 'centres Christianity above all other religious faiths and traditions'.
Others have raised concerns that the mandate risks undermining the independence of teachers to steer their classes. Despite the board's final approval reducing the required list, the Texas Classroom Teachers Association says it remains too cumbersome.