Adam, Eve and the Prodigal Son: Texas kids will learn Bible stories

The Texas board of education has approved a required reading list that includes stories and passages from the Old and New Testament, but not from Muslim, Buddhist or Hindu texts.

Elementary students will exposed to Bible stories, such as "David and Goliath" and "Daniel in the Lion's Den." ("Noah's Ark" was dumped at the last minute, because a board member didn't like the version on the list.) Older students will read the story of Adam and Eve (Genesis) and the flight from Egypt (Exodus), as well as "The Lord is My Shepherd" (Psalms) and parts of the Book of Job.

I think the controversy is overblown. It's impossible to understand Western culture and literature without a familiarity with Adam, Eve, David and Goliath. You can't even understand cartoons. How do history students understand "Let My People Go" if they've never heard of Exodus?

I also have no problem with seventh-graders knowing that Jesus said, "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" and "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God."

High school students will read 1 Corinthians 13: "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal … Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude."

Again, this is part of our culture. It's not just for Christians.

I noticed that kindergarteners will hear an Ashanti story and a Choctaw story, as well as Aesop's fables and classic nursery rhymes.

Many of the other readings focus on American heroes and patriotic themes, which seems fine to me.

The board specified which translations to use, favoring Protestant Christian interpretations, writes Ellie Ashby in the Texas Tribune. She analyzes the various ways different translators describe Eve's creation, and quotes experts who seem to expect teachers to provide scriptural interpretations.

"Some of the required passages contain nuances that could challenge teachers," she writes.

Well, anything can be taught well or badly, deeply or superficially. How many teachers will confuse public school with Sunday school? Do we have so little faith?

When it comes to teaching Job, I recommend the scene in Good Omens, which challenges the story.