Country singer Kacey Musgraves hopped on Instagram recently to let the world know she is very upset about Texas including Bible-based material in public school lessons. As The American Tribune reported, she shared a Dallas Morning News headline reading "Bible passages will be taught in Texas public schools" and added the caption: "The Bible being forced by people who don't even follow it themselves. smfh. This is simply indoctrination and it's not okay."
Here is where things get a little awkward for the Grammy winner. The new education rules in Texas do not actually force anything on anyone. The Bible-based lessons are not mandatory. Individual school districts get to decide whether or not to use them. If they do opt in, they receive additional state funding, which is an incentive, sure, but nobody is being marched to Sunday school at gunpoint.
So what exactly are these terrifying lessons that have Musgraves sounding the alarm? Brace yourselves. The kindergarten curriculum teaches children to help their neighbor using the Golden Rule, that famous radical concept of "do unto others as you would like others to do unto you." Teachers are instructed to explain that the Bible is a "collection of ancient texts" whose parts make up "the core books of the Jewish and Christian religions." Truly chilling stuff.
A third grade lesson about the first Thanksgiving directs teachers to discuss how the governor of Plymouth said a prayer referencing passages from the book of Psalms. Teachers then explain that Psalms is a collection of songs, poems, and hymns "that are used in both Jewish and Christian worship." If that qualifies as indoctrination, then every Thanksgiving pageant your kid has ever been in was basically a revival meeting.
Breitbart News noted that Musgraves still has shows scheduled in Texas later this year, and it remains to be seen whether her comments will affect those plans. She is also reportedly a supporter of Drag Queen Story Hour events at libraries, which some folks find a little ironic given her strong feelings about what children should and should not be exposed to in educational settings.
Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott defended the policy after it was implemented, saying it was "a critical step forward to bring students back to the basics of education and provide the best education in the nation."
Look, people can disagree about the role of religion in public schools. That is a perfectly reasonable debate to have. But if you are going to accuse a state of forcing the Bible on children, it might help your case if the lessons were actually mandatory. Reading the fine print before posting on Instagram is free. Musgraves writes songs for a living. You would think she would appreciate the importance of reading the actual text before offering a review.
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