The Texas State Board of Education voted 11-3 today to keep language in the social studies curriculum that directs teachers to “Examine the reasons the Founding Fathers protected religious freedom in America and guaranteed it free exercise by saying that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof and compare and contrast this to the phrase ‘separation of church and state.’” The elected board has 10 Republicans and 5 Democrats.
The fight over the establishment clause is part of a larger struggle over the public school social studies curriculum. Groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People have accused Republicans on the board of politicizing their curriculum and not devoting sufficient attention to civil rights. Republicans, however, argue that they are promoting balance and ensuring that Texas students learn patriotism and the true intent of the Founding Fathers of our nation.
