Starting next spring, Texas will offer a new elementary school curriculum narrowly approved by the state Board of Education. The materials, officially named Bluebonnet Learning, have been criticized for the amount of Christianity embedded into the curriculum, as the Texas Tribune reports how many religious scholars suggest it could lead to the bullying or isolation of non-Christian students. Although the curriculum is not state-mandated, districts choosing to adopt it will receive $60 per student in state funding.
Although the curriculum could provide valuable lessons for students, it obscures the separation between religion and state, creates skepticism of its educational benefits by offering monetary incentives and doesn’t provide much change from the current curriculum.
The golden rule is often summarized by the maxim “treat others the way you want to be treated.” Bluebonnet Learning’s Kindergarten materials introduce the golden rule from definitions found in faiths like Christianity, Islam and Hinduism. Among the provided examples, the curriculum emphasizes the “Good Samaritan” story from the Bible. While the materials reflect this principle from various faiths, the specific focus on Christianity may not be the best approach for a public school curriculum. As religion becomes more intertwined with public schooling, the divide between religion and state is further obscured.
Currently, Texas is offering $60 per student to districts choosing to use Bluebonnet Learning materials. If this price applied to materials for grades K-8, Mansfield ISD could make over $1.4 million for changing its curriculum. However, if these materials were better than the ones currently available, Texas wouldn’t need incentives to encourage districts to use them. From an outside perspective, using money to motivate action casts doubt on the actual benefits of Bluebonnet Learning.
The goal of all educational materials is to benefit students. While it is beneficial to teach students how to contribute to their communities through understanding responsibilities and practicing the golden rule, these lessons can be found throughout the district’s current materials. If the district were to adopt Bluebonnet Learning, its added benefits wouldn’t justify its problematic priorities. Until a change is made, the district should not consider Bluebonnet Learning.
The state should review its lesson plans for Bluebonnet Learning and make the necessary changes to remove religious biases. Additionally, the $60 per student incentive should be removed to prevent districts from using educational materials for monetary gain rather than educational benefit.
Our representative in the Texas House is Rep. David Cook of District 96. Students, staff and parents are encouraged to contact him at this website so that it may be introduced at the beginning of the next legislative session Jan. 14.
