Texas Mandates Reading List Including Anne Frank, Bible Passages

Texas has established the nation's first statewide required reading list for K-12 public schools, set to take effect in 2030. The list mandates that students read Anne Frank's diary, various Bible passages, and other Jewish and Holocaust-related texts. This decision by the Republican-controlled State Board of Education, approved in a 9-5 vote, has ignited strong objections from some Jewish leaders and rabbis. They voiced concerns during the public comment period, particularly regarding the integration of Christian content into the curriculum.

The board's move aims to reverse a perceived decline in reading and exert control over student exposure to texts. It follows previous actions by the board to incorporate Christianity into public schools, including an optional Bible curriculum for elementary schools and a requirement for the Ten Commandments to be displayed in classrooms. Texas has also been a focal point for book removals, with some districts removing books on Jewish history and the Holocaust.

The new reading list comprises over 150 titles. It features Elie Wiesel's memoir "Night," Lois Lowry's novel "Number the Stars," George Washington's 1790 letter to a Rhode Island synagogue, and the "original edition" of Frank's diary. The board opted for the original edition, reportedly to avoid passages in a graphic novel version where Frank describes her sexual desires. Students from fourth grade onwards will encounter numerous passages from both the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament, a requirement that has met fierce opposition from some Texas Jewish leaders. Board members continued to add titles until the vote, including the parable of Jonah and the Whale for first graders.

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We hear about this stuff, and people are like, ‘Well, you know, that’s over there, or that’s in another state, that’s not here.’ Let me tell you something. It came to Maury County.