The State Board of Education will once again be at the William B. Travis building in downtown Austin for a full board meeting on November 18th. The Texas Impact Public School Defenders, as well as any other concerned Texans, will have another opportunity to testify in person or via written comment on the Bluebonnet Learning materials (formerly known as Open Education Resources). The Public School Defenders previously mobilized to express why they believe the religion-infused instructional material is not appropriate for Texas public schools, and we are doubling down on that stance at the November 18th meeting.
In case you aren’t up to date on this project, the Public School Defenders have been researching and analyzing the Bluebonnet Learning materials that were presented by the State Board of Education this past summer. We found the instructional materials to heavily reference religion and use religious stories as part of the reading and language arts curriculum. Not only that, but the material favors Christianity and does not equitably represent other religions. Although the Bluebonnet Learning materials are optional, we do not believe they are appropriate learning materials for young children. To read more about the Public School Defenders’ work on Bluebonnet Learning, click here.
Want to submit a written comment for the upcoming SBOE meeting and/or testify at the November meeting? Follow the step-by-step instructions I created!
- First, you need to have one or two concise points you want to focus on. Although there are many things you might want to mention, it is more effective to go more into depth on one or two aspects of the curriculum. So, what are (some) talking points you could choose from?
- Christianity and its relevance to US history (is Christianity necessary to discuss when teaching US history?)
- Suitability concerns (religious freedom/stories of Christianity/Judaism included in Kindergarten and young grade levels)
- There is not a wide range of religions presented in the curriculum and they are not discussed in an equitable manner
- As a person of faith, I do not want religion taught to my children/grandchildren/neighbors by someone other than a faith leader chosen by their family.
- Next, it is very important to review the Bluebonnet Learning materials and find specific examples to support your argument. The easiest way to do this is to scan the teacher guides for areas they are told to instruct on religious content.
- Citing the Texas Constitution can also be a helpful addition to your testimony. See the end of this guide for excerpts that might be useful!
- If you are submitting a written comment, you can copy and paste it into the provided text box or attach it as a file.
- If you would like to provide oral testimony at the November 18-22 SBOE meeting(s), you must register online between 8:00 a.m. (Central Time) on Monday, November 11, 2024, and continuing through 5:00 p.m. (Central Time) on Friday, November 15, 2024.
- If you are registered for oral testimony, come prepared with a written version of your testimony you can reference as you testify. Also, print 15 copies to distribute to the SBOE members. Arriving about 30 minutes early will ensure you are at the meeting right when it begins, and will not miss your name being called to the podium.
Want some helpful quotes/excerpts to support your testimony? Check out a couple I found!
Texas Constitution Excerpts:
“Sec. 6. FREEDOM OF WORSHIP. All men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own consciences. No man shall be compelled to attend, erect or support any place of worship, or to maintain any ministry against his consent. No human authority ought, in any case whatever, to control or interfere with the rights of conscience in matters of religion, and no preference shall ever be given by law to any religious society or mode of worship. But it shall be the duty of the Legislature to pass such laws as may be necessary to protect equally every religious denomination in the peaceable enjoyment of its own mode of public worship.” (Page 1)
“Sec. 1. SUPPORT AND MAINTENANCE OF SYSTEM OF PUBLIC FREE
SCHOOLS. A general diffusion of knowledge being essential to the preservation of the liberties and rights of the people, it shall be the duty of the Legislature of the State to establish and make suitable provision for the support and maintenance of an efficient system of public free schools. (Feb. 15, 1876.)” (Page 109)
Texas Education Code:
“Sec. 25.151. STUDENT EXPRESSION. A school district shall treat a student’s voluntary expression of a religious viewpoint, if any, on an otherwise permissible subject in the same manner the district treats a student’s voluntary expression of a secular or other viewpoint on an otherwise permissible subject and may not discriminate against the student based on a religious viewpoint expressed by the student on an otherwise permissible subject.”