How do you feel about the new Christian-flavored textbooks coming to a school near you? (Public educator, here.) [View all]

Years ago, when hubby was still teaching at a nondenominational Christian school, I used to volunteer there. His first year he taught in a two room schoolhouse. K was downstairs, and he had grades 1-6 upstairs. I loved the kids and loved helping them. There were a number of struggling students who should have had services for one reason or another, so it felt super important to me that I help out. But then came the day, the following year, when we acquired another teacher for gr 1-3, and hubby had gr 4-8 upstairs, when I had to help with history. The school used the ABeka program. Hardcore evangelical young earth stuff. I was asked to teach a young lady that we have different races because each of Noah's three sons travelled in a different direction after the flood receded and the ark made landfall (as shown in the map inset.) (Now, some back story might help here, for those who are wondering how the daughter of Green, secular humanists ended up with the son of a bible-believing preacher man. 1) A decade and a half of bullying had left me with no self-esteem. 2) I was navigating misdiagnosed OCD and Bipolar largely on my own. 3) He's a great guy, and we fit well together despite our differences. (I did try, at first, to cling to his faith, which was how we got together. I thought it might be the answer to all my craziness, but I digress.))

But, being presented with this race theory was a bridge too far. I had tolerated random semi-feel good bible verses on the math pages, but this was the subversion of science. Just as bad as saying there had never been any rain before the great flood, the idea that species diverge because God tweaked them with "divine speciation." I couldn't teach it. Couldn't bring myself to come in anymore, even though those kids desperately needed my help.

I watched from afar as the Baptists infiltrated the board. Suddenly, it was no longer enough to slash only Harry Potter and Goose Bumps from the book order forms. Only the King James 1611 Bible was allowed. No more touchy feely Message. The Kindergarten teacher, who'd been raised Catholic, was brought to tears for her background. Accused of slipping in Catechism. Hubby was the de facto admin, so he heard it from all sides. Hed taken up chugging antacids that year. Eventually, he left that school, worked retail for a while, and got back into public education until "no child left behind/no teacher left standing" came into view.

Now, in the current case of TX, the Baptists already rule. What they are slipping in is already agreed upon. I'm curious to know if this round is just soft sell, feel good stuff. More golden rule nuggets on math pages, but I bet they are going to work the hardcore stuff in down the line. I know for myself, I don't want comparative religion eating up my math instruction time. Because if I was forced to present the Christian stuff, I would absolutely add in other perspectives. But, maybe they can't force us to teach it? It's in the books, but we can ignore it? I would prefer it wasn't there at all, but wonder if that's going to be the workaround. In places that are religious strongholds, it's taken in with fervor, and where it's not wanted it's left to wither in favor of more important things. This will only divide the nation further, I think.