Texas public schools may recast Islam lessons, would ask students to examine Islam through "the Prophet Mohammed's brutal military campaigns."

[duluxe]

Texas schools may recast Islam lessons while adding Bible readings​

Texas education officials weigh new standards that would change how students learn about Islam, Christianity, slavery and civil rights. (Austin American-Statesman/Hearst/Austin American-Statesman via Ge)

Texas public school lessons could soon change how students learn about world religions, slavery and civil rights, as the State Board of Education moves toward final approval of a sweeping social studies rewrite.

The Republican-majority board voted Wednesday night into early Thursday to give preliminary approval to middle school and high school standards that would draw stronger connections between Islam and violence, according to the Dallas Morning News. The move came after Muslim advocates repeatedly asked the board to include references to Islam's positive contributions.

One newly approved provision would ask students to examine Islam through "the Prophet Mohammed's brutal military campaigns." The amendment was introduced by board member Brandon Hall, whose earlier version asked students to explain "the Prophet Mohammed's brutal military campaigns against Jewish and Christian tribes," as well as the taking of female captives as harem slaves.



The board approved the amendment in a 9-5 vote. Shortly afterward, members also voted to eliminate a standard asking students to understand that the teachings and beliefs of Islam are found in the Koran, per the Dallas Morning News.

The debate also comes as Muslim Texans and civil rights advocates have warned about rising anti-Muslim rhetoric in state politics, including recent claims from some lawmakers and activists about so-called "Muslim takeovers."

Critics have pushed back against the proposed standards, arguing they place greater emphasis on Christianity while giving less attention to other world religions and world history. The standards would affect more than 5 million Texas public school students and help determine what students learn in social studies classes for years to come.

The social studies debate is unfolding alongside a separate statewide reading list that could require Texas students to read Bible excerpts in most grade levels beginning in elementary school, according to the New York Times. Supporters have argued the Bible is important as literature and as part of understanding American history and culture, while critics say the state is moving too far toward religious instruction in public schools.



The changes are part of a broader rewrite of Texas social studies standards. On Tuesday, the board also voted to cut or scale back several previously proposed lessons on slavery, segregation and civil rights, according to the Houston Chronicle.

Those changes included removing provisions that specifically acknowledged African Americans were enslaved in the United States "because of the color of their skin" and that Southern states seceded from the Union in part to preserve slavery.

During Wednesday's meeting, board members also stripped language that asked students to consider historical events from the perspectives of people whose voices are underrepresented in historical accounts. The remaining standard asks students to "compare and contrast multiple perspectives on a historical event."

Board members did not give an explanation for the changes, according to the Houston Chronicle.



Members are scheduled to hold a final vote on Friday for social studies standards for all grade levels. If approved, the new lessons would begin rolling out to public schools in 2030 and become part of standardized tests.