Last week I spent a day in Austin, Texas, to testify for the second time against the new (and newly named) “Bluebonnet Learning K-5 Reading Language Arts” curriculum. Despite significant opposition, the Bible-infused curriculum was approved, which should be unsurprising…
Sunday schools in public schools?
I grew up going to Sunday school, starting with the “Cradle Roll” department of First Baptist Church of Decatur, Texas, the town where I was born. Like all the kids at that church, when I learned to read, I was…
New book brings Baptist heroes to life for children and youth
The Baptist History and Heritage Society has released an e-book designed to bring 14 of history’s greatest Baptists to life for older children and youth. Portraits of Courage: Stories of Baptist Heroes includes curriculum, discussion points and hands-on activities focused…
David C. Cook acquires Group Publishing as market shifts again
The Christian publishing world is consolidating again, with news that David C. Cook plans to acquire Group Publishing. The acquisition would make David C. Cook the largest independent publisher of curriculum for the interdenominational church market, a news release says….
The shocking things I witnessed at the Texas Board of Education
Recently I traveled to Austin, Texas, to testify against the new curriculum proposed by the Texas Education Agency. This curriculum was orchestrated by TEA’s Commissioner, Mike Morath, whom Texas. Gov. Gregg Abbott hand-picked to lead the agency. Morath has refused…
Texas Board of Education gets huge pushback on religion-infused curriculum
Activists and other Texans opposed to a proposed Bible-based curriculum for public school children are becoming a concern for extremist Christians who support the material, said Amanda Tyler, executive director of Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty. BJC has joined…
Proposed new Texas school curriculum infused with Bible stories
A new curriculum under consideration by the Texas Education Agency threatens to turn state schools into Sunday schools and violate the religious freedom rights of children and families, education and religious liberty advocates warned during a recent webinar. The Bible-based…
‘Just Like Me’ VBS aims to teach acceptance and community
Facing a violent world of prejudice and hatred, concerned Christians have searched long and hard for children’s curricula that teach values of empathy and inclusion. Now an organization historically focused on church political advocacy has taken a new path, producing…
Only one-fourth of Republican parents say children should be taught the legacy of slavery still affects Black people today — and other findings from a new Pew survey
Parent eruptions at local school board meetings over the past couple of years are based in real and dramatic differences of opinion about what should be taught in America’s public schools, according to new data from Pew Research. For example,…