Textbooks and religion debate rages on

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The State Board of Education has raised a lot of eyebrows with their new suggestions for social studies textbooks.

The 2009 recommendations include more emphasis on documents like the Mayflower Compact of 1620, which was written by Christian pilgrims. Many backers of the changes suggested adding the Bible as a source of influence in creating many important documents from early America.

Some activist groups like The Texas Freedom Network feel the move is an "unnecessary divisive culture war." They felt that the SBOE wants the government and laws to be "based on Christian biblical principles" after hearing about the suggested changes.

The opposition is afraid the changes will threaten separation of church and state, as well as encourage students to think that the nation's founders based their laws on biblical principles. One specific change suggested adding a section to fifth-grade curriculum that discusses the importance of The Great Awakening and other religious revival movements and their influence on the nation's face.

Board members will hear public testimony on the changes on Wednesday and will begin the debate on the changes on Thursday.