Texans want moral, biblical instruction in public schools, poll finds

Eight in 10 Texas voters want morality to be taught in schools, and a strong majority even support biblical instruction, a new poll found.

Most Texans (72%) also believe behavior and discipline are getting worse in public schools.

A strong majority (80%) support “moral and character education” being given to public school students, while 65% explicitly support “Bible-based character education” being available to public school students, according to the polling.

“The vast majority of Texans know discipline and student behavior are serious challenges in public school classrooms and support teaching moral and character education during school hours,” said Joel Penton, CEO of LifeWise Academy, which commissioned the survey of 800 Texans in February. LifeWise is a nonprofit which provides Bible-based education to public school students through released-time programs.

“Nearly two-thirds of Texas voters support utilizing Bible-based character education as an option for Texas public schools, crossing political and demographic boundaries,” Penton also said.  

LifeWise’s national polling reveals similar results, with 78% of Americans supporting moral education and 67% wanting public school students to be instilled with biblical values.  

It’s possible through what’s called released-time programs, which provide instruction – usually by third-party groups, such as LifeWise Academy, off school property, eliminating any potential constitutional dilemmas. 

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in a 1952 case in support of such programs. 

Despite judicial support, such religious education programs are still faced with various speed bumps.  

One such instructional provider in Pennsylvania was forced to sue the state after it was told its vehicles didn’t meet the standards for school buses. A court later ruled school bus standards didn’t apply to the organization’s vehicles.  

Last year, Indiana passed a law explicitly allowing released-time programs.