Conflict within Educational Institutions: The Risk of Christian Nationalism's Influence in Public Educational Settings
Amber Hayes on Public School Religion
In theory, public education promotes social mobility, but it's no secret that school systems can be corruption hubs, serving the powers that be. This isn't a novel issue in America, where it dates back to the late 18th century when Thomas Jefferson urged educational reform following the disruptive protests of Shays' and Whiskey Rebellions. More recently, the 2020 creation of the 1776 Commission, aimed at promoting "patriotic education," raised eyebrows amidst the Black Lives Matter movement.
Fast-forward to 2024, and we're witnessing a reemergence of religious influences in public education, particularly in the form of white Christian nationalists. Conservative politicians across the American South are trying to weave Protestant Christianity into the classroom.
In one example, a Bible-based curriculum approved in Texas public elementary schools in 2024. Meanwhile, Oklahoma state superintendent Ryan Walters pushed to incorporate the Bible and the Ten Commandments into the 5th-12th grade curriculum, even going as far as ordering 500 Bibles for use in AP U.S. Government classrooms. This isn't the end of it — Louisiana officials tried to display the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms, and Trump himself stated, "We will support bringing back prayer to our schools."
But isn't that unconstitutional? Well, it's murky. The Supreme Court ruled in the Abington School District v. Schempp case, held in 1963, that mandated Bible reading or prayer in public schools is unconstitutional. However, it's unclear whether this applies to religious themes seeping into other aspects of education, as in the new Texas curriculum.
The push for religious curriculums stems from the belief that it provides a moral compass for students. And while the lessons do contain morality lessons, such as the Good Samaritan parable emphasizing the Golden Rule, this moral foundation isn't exclusive to Christianity. Moreover, critics argue that the religious curriculums proposed are anything but righteous. Lessons in the new Bluebonnet curriculum, for example, are problematic — a second-grade lesson on Queen Esther asks students to play dice following the evil Haman's example, and a fourth-grade lesson glorifies the violent and imperialistic Crusades.
Critics argue that these curricula are exclusionary to those of other faiths, and there's evidence to back this up: a growing political power of Christian nationalist organizations supports the integration of religion into schools to maintain their version of Christianity's prominence. Yet, there's an ongoing fight for a quality, secular education — both by advocacy groups and students striving for an education that represents all perspectives.
- Amidst the controversy surrounding the integration of religious curricula in public education, editorial debates delve into the intersection of politics and history, questioning the constitutionality of such moves.
- The field of psychology offers insights into the potential psychological impacts of incorporating religious themes in general-news venues, potentially influencing the moral development and worldview of students.
- As photographs capture the ongoing battle for secular education, journalistic reporting from the frontlines sheds light on the divergent perspectives and issues at play in this dynamic and evolving news story, ultimately contributing to the historical record of America's education system.
