From The Daily Texan:

The Texas State Board of Education will vote today on the final adoption of curriculum requirements for high school elective courses that teach Bible scriptures’ impact on the history and literature of Western civilization.

The board’s Committee on Instruction passed the curriculum to the full board in a 3-to-1 vote Thursday.

Today’s vote will fuel controversy that started between religious-freedom advocacy groups in June 2007 when the Texas Legislature passed a bill allowing school districts to teach the course. State Rep. Scott Hochberg, a Houston Democrat who serves on the Public Education Committee, said the bill was an attempt to provide districts with legal protection if they choose to offer the course.

As outlined in the board’s agenda, the voluntary course will discuss biblical content, history and literary style.

Three percent of state school districts offered Bible courses during the 2005-2006 school year, according to a 2006 report from the Texas Freedom Network, a liberal watchdog organization.

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