Church and State
Current Events & Pop Culture
Available to teachers only as part of the Teaching Church and State Teacher Pass
Teaching Church and State Teacher Pass includes:
- Assignments & Activities
- Reading Quizzes
- Current Events & Pop Culture articles
- Discussion & Essay Questions
- Challenges & Opportunities
- Related Readings in Literature & History
Sample of Current Events & Pop Culture
Separation? What Separation?
A Los Angeles Times article published in March 2010 looks at the Texas Board of Education’s decision to de-emphasize the history of advocacy for the separation of church and state in K-12 American history curriculum. The larger worry? That because Texas is such a big purchaser of educational textbooks, their decision might affect the content of books available to districts outside of the Lone Star State.
Excerpt
“With the changes, Texas' curriculum is likely to de-emphasize the concept in U.S. history of separating church and state, and the influence of Thomas Jefferson on 18th century world history. It would also cast a positive light on conservatives, such as Phyllis Schlafly and the late Sen. Joseph McCarthy.”