It shouldn't be controversial to teach American kids in public school about the Bible, an extraordinary, timeless work of history, moral teaching and literature. But that's exactly what's coming for Texas kids in K-12 public schools, and the plan has already stirred real controversy among parents, educators and other concerned citizens.

In meetings leading up to their June 26 vote, members of the Texas State Board of Education heard from nearly 500 speakers weighing in on a proposal to add the Bible and other classic works of literature, along with a rewrite of the state's social studies lessons, to the K-12 curriculum's reading list.

The changes are part of a broader review of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, the state standards that spell out what students must learn in school. The new statewide reading list would require students to read about Adam and Eve, the eight beatitudes and the "Parable of the Prodigal Son," among other things. The board also eliminated the sixth grade World Cultures course and removed content about how race and ethnicity have negatively affected society. Those changes won't take effect until the 2030-31 school year.

As a former homeschooling mom with three kids now in Texas public schools, I think cutting the world cultures course in favor of more Texas-focused history, and stripping out content on race and ethnicity, is a mistake. But I don't have a problem with portions of the Bible being taught in public schools, in Texas or anywhere else. And that's not just because I'm a Christian mom.

The Bible is........

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