CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The Texas State Board of Education narrowly passed the preliminary vote to incorporate bible-based teachings into public school curriculum. The final vote is set for Friday.
If the board were to pass the new law, it would allow teachings from the Bible such as the Golden Rule and lessons from Bible books such as Genesis to be taught to students in kindergarten through fifth grade.
However, there is a time utilized in classrooms right now that allows children to practice their freedom of religion, reflecting as they choose during a "moment of silence."
"There is already a wonderful Texas law, of the moment of silence," Chabad Coastal Bend Rabbi Naftoli Schmukler said.
This dedicated time allows a student to pray, reflect, meditate or engage in any other silent activity as long as they are not a distraction to others.
Schmukler says this versatility makes it possible for people of any religion to participate.
"There are so many different kinds of people with different backgrounds and religions and faiths," he said. "The moment of silence, the benefit of it is so wonderful because it's not something that is textbook which would be so difficult to make it for everyone."
If approved, incorporating bible-based teachings could mean actual curriculum changes for students in public schools, but it will be an optional choice per school.
The option would also come with financial incentives.
"For a society to be successful, it needs to be more than just educated in arithmetic and reading and writing or business or medicine," Schmukler said. "It needs even more than all of that, it needs to have an education of peace between people and most importantly respect between one another."