The Texas Board of Education has given final approval to changes to the state's high school social studies curriculum. The revised curriculum, which covers U.S. history, government, and world geography, has been the subject of controversy, with dozens of people testifying against the changes during a public hearing.
The amended curriculum includes language that asserts "radical Islam" motivated the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. This language is part of a broader requirement for students to study early Islam, including the "brutal military campaigns" of Prophet Muhammad against Jewish and Christian tribes, the "normalization of slavery," and the taking of female captives as "harem slaves." Several Democratic state board members pushed back against the wording, but the Republican-majority board ultimately approved the changes.
Critics of the revised curriculum include Muslim groups, students, and curriculum experts. Habiiba Quresh, a 15-year-old Muslim student, told the board that she felt "attacked" by the language and that it made her feel like her religion did not belong in the classroom. Several board-appointed curriculum experts also expressed concerns about the language, arguing that it did not hold up to close historical scrutiny.
The Texas chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations has criticized the board's decision, saying it "single[s] out and denigrate[s] Islam, minimize[s] the brutal realities of slavery and segregation, and entirely erase[s] Palestinian history." The organization argued that the language is not based on credible historical sources and that it teaches students to see each other as threats.
The approved curriculum is expected to be phased into classrooms during the 2030-31 school year.
NTC Report coverage is based on reporting from the original publisher.
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