The Oklahoma Supreme Court has temporarily blocked state school officials from purchasing Bibles and Scripture-based instructional materials for use in public school classrooms. The March 10 order bars Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters and the Oklahoma State Department…
Georgetown dean fires back at Trump official who demanded curriculum changes
The dean of Georgetown University Law Center has rebuffed a Trump administration official who sought to control the Catholic school’s curriculum. That’s not going to happen, Dean William M. Treanor said, because of the First Amendment. “The First Amendment ……
Now Ryan Walters seeks bids for Bible-based curriculum in Oklahoma
The Oklahoma Department of Education has opened the bidding process for a Bible-based curriculum designed for public elementary school children, according to a newly posted Request for Proposal. The move comes as state Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters deals…
Here’s what tax dollars will fund with the Texas school voucher bill
With proposed legislation to create school vouchers in Texas, a majority of taxpayer money could go to private schools that teach anti-science ideas and young-earth creationism. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has made “school choice” his mission over the last few…
Here’s why the new Texas school curriculum is so very, very bad
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…