(The Center Square) – The Texas Senate continues to pass bills identified as legislative priorities by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, with the most recent focusing on religious freedom.
The Senate passed a bipartisan bill Tuesday to put prayer back in public schools. SB 11, filed by state Sen. Mayes Middleton, R-Galveston, passed by a vote of 23-7. It heads to the Texas House.
The bill would allow teachers and students, with parental consent, to opt into a period of prayer and reading of the Bible or other religious texts during school hours.
“Our schools are not God-free zones,” Middleton said. “We are a state and nation built on ‘In God We Trust.’ You have to ask: are our schools better or worse off since prayer was taken out in the 1960s? Litigious atheists are no longer going to get to decide for everyone else if students and educators exercise their religious liberties during school hours.” more
As with all things, the devil is in the details.
On its face, I am against this. Texas ranks very low compared to other states in quality of education, bottom percentile in test scores. If they want to give parents more bang for their buck, to better prepare students for the real world, and a leg up in world competition, get rid of CRT and DEI, grade on merit, bring back homework, and go back to teaching the basics.
If I was a parent of school-age kids, I would not want them teaching my kids anything about religion, that will come directly from me since they are un-qualified. I don’t want teachers discussing religion in any form and I don’t want The Ten Commandments posted in classrooms. Teach them adequate communication skills (both reading and writing), math, science, geography and history in an honest fashion. Bring back “shop” for boys and “Home Ec.” for girls.
Many years ago while browsing an old bookstore in New England, I came across a set of McGuffey Readers;
https://www.bing.com/search?q=mcguffey+readers&form=ANNTH1&refig=97c3f612e293490d926fa45f3c749f62&pc=W089&adppc=EDGEXST&pq=mcguffe+&pqlth=8&assgl=16&sgcn=mcguffey+readers&qs=SC&sgtpv=SC&smvpcn=0&swbcn=10&sctcn=0&sc=10-8&sp=1&ghc=0&cvid=97c3f612e293490d926fa45f3c749f62&clckatsg=1&hsmssg=0
Looking through the 5th-grade book, many college students today would have difficulty with it, same kids, same capacity to learn, but different teacher expectations.
Texas congress passed this so that the next thing they can do is allow muslims to pray at school. Because that is what it’s really about.
^^^^^^ I just read yesterday how Mooooslems are taking over Houston. Galveston might as well be part of Houston. Interesting, provocative, well seasoned.
If it is all volunteer and participation is outside normal school hours, then it will work. That way it is not controlled by some type of watered down curriculum.
watch the house-dindus fk it up
“If it is all volunteer and participation is outside normal school hours”
I’m certain that all the Mooooslems will all participate. And you can joyfully listen to their call to prayer being broadcast over loud speakers as your taking your kids to school.
NOTHING SCREAMS HYPOCRICY like posting the 10 Commandments (including of course “thou shalt not steal” in a classroom built, paid for, maintained, and staffed via the THEFT of property taxation. ABOLISH the entire government monopoly day prison system and allow ONLY a fully competitive marketplace of businesses and individuals to deliver to parents and students ACCOUNTABLE educational services. Obviously allow CHARITY schools, business-sponsored schools, private voluntary scholarships, online schools, co-ops, neighborhood schools, home schools, etc. but ZERO government involvement in any form.
WE will be praying OUR way every day in your school TOO!!!
ALLAHU AKBAR!