Conservative legislators in the United States are actively seeking to integrate Christianity into public school education, raising questions about the principle of separation between church and state. These initiatives include adding biblical references into reading curricula and mandating the display of the Ten Commandments in classrooms.
These developments come as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to assume office, promoting the First Amendment rights for prayer and Bible reading in schools, which are permissible as long as they are not sponsored by the government. Although the federal government cannot impose teaching standards on states, Trump’s influence could encourage local activists to pursue more Christian-centric educational practices.
Backing school choice, Trump and his Republican counterparts aim to widen the use of taxpayer-funded vouchers, enabling parents to enroll their children in religious schools. Concurrently, there are movements to incorporate Christian principles into public education, affecting students from various religious backgrounds. Judicial appointments made during Trump’s first term could also pave the way for a more religiously infused curriculum in public education systems, as courts have shown support for bringing more religious content into schools.
Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, stated that Trump’s presidency has galvanized Christian nationalists like never before. A significant segment of the population subscribes to the belief that the authors of the Constitution envisioned the U.S. as fundamentally a Christian nation. A smaller faction, part of a movement known as Christian nationalism, seeks to merge American and Christian identities, advocating for the United States to develop into an explicitly Christian society.
Contrarily, historians argue that the nation was founded as an alternative to European systems with established churches and religious oppression. Some states have already enacted legislation aimed at incorporating Christianity into educational settings. For instance, Louisiana has passed a law mandating the display of the Ten Commandments in all public school classrooms, which has sparked legal challenges from families.
In Texas, a curriculum has been approved that incorporates biblical teachings into language arts education. Oklahoma’s state education leader has urged the integration of Bible studies from fifth through twelfth grades, although many schools have since opted not to comply. In Utah, lawmakers declared the Ten Commandments as a historical document, allowing its display alongside foundational documents like the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Moreover, attorneys general from 17 states with Republican leadership have expressed support for Louisiana’s Ten Commandments legislation.
While schools are encouraged to teach about religion and engage with religious texts, critics argue that the new policies lean towards indoctrination rather than education. There are also rising concerns regarding lesson plans that allow the use of videos created by Prager U, whose content has drawn criticism for reinforcing a Christian nationalist perspective.
During his first term, Trump launched the 1776 Project, aimed at presenting a more patriotic interpretation of American history. This initiative faced backlash from historians who pointed out its failure to acknowledge Christianity’s complex role in the nation’s past, including its ties to slavery. The project has been incorporated into a curriculum developed by Hillsdale College, a conservative institution, affecting publicly funded charter schools and influencing educational standards in South Dakota.
As legal challenges to these state-level initiatives progress through the judiciary, Trump’s appointments have made the courts more favorable to religious interests. In 2022, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of a Washington state football coach who was dismissed for praying with his players post-game, asserting that the school district violated his religious expression rights. While dissenters noted that this could pressure players to join in, the court ruled that public schools cannot limit an employee’s religious activities merely because they might suggest an endorsement of religion.
This ruling may create opportunities for conservatives to embed more Christian teachings in public school curricula, as expressed by Derek Black, a law professor at the University of South Carolina. Following the football coach’s case, legal interpretations regarding church and state separation are being reassessed to reflect historical contexts, as noted by Joseph Davis from Becket, a law firm devoted to religious freedom.
Davis remarked that the Supreme Court has voiced support for recognizing religious expression in public sectors, especially given religion’s historical significance in the U.S. However, critics argue that certain measures to enhance Christian references in educational materials overstep bounds, incorporating biblical texts unnecessarily, while neglecting the historical context of Christianity’s involvement in various injustices such as the genocide of Native populations.
These concerns particularly extend to the recent curriculum in Texas, which, while not mandatory, incentivizes districts to adopt it financially. Religious studies expert David R. Brockman indicated that the materials significantly prioritize Bible teachings to a degree that seems unwarranted, distorting the role of religion in the nation’s founding and overlooking other crucial liberties valued by Americans.
Texas Values, a conservative advocacy group that supports the new curriculum, insists that the recent judicial stances allowing more religious inclusion in schools, alongside enhanced funding routes to religious institutions, represent overdue corrections. Jonathan Saenz, president of Texas Values, asserted that the football coach ruling had rightfully reinstated protections for religious practice and free speech within public education. He suggested that voters and legislators are increasingly resistant to perceived assaults on religious heritage, framing America as ‘One Nation Under God.’
