Brad Dacus Testifies Before State Board of Education on Preserving America’s Religious and Literary Heritage
AUSTIN, TX — Pacific Justice Institute (PJI) Founder and President Brad Dacus testified before the Texas State Board of Education during a critical review of proposed changes that could remove references to America’s religious and founding heritage from educational materials, including the use of biblical literature.
Dacus was invited to speak by a member of the Board, highlighting growing concern among education leaders over efforts to revise historical and literary standards in public education.
His testimony comes amid a broader debate over how history and literature should be taught in American classrooms—particularly whether religious influences that shaped the nation’s founding and cultural development should be acknowledged or omitted.
“Pacific Justice Institute is not advocating for the promotion of religion in public schools,” said Dacus. “We are advocating for historical accuracy. The role of faith in the founding of this nation and in its literary tradition is undeniable, and students deserve to learn that truth in full.”
The discussion has intensified as some proposed changes could minimize or exclude references to religious influence—despite the fact that faith has played a significant role in shaping American law, culture, and education. From the Founding Fathers to foundational documents, and even in classic literature such as the works of William Shakespeare, biblical themes and references have long been woven into the fabric of Western thought and expression.
PJI and other advocates argue that removing such references risks presenting students with an incomplete—and potentially distorted—understanding of history and literature.
“It is both historically and academically appropriate to recognize the influence of the Bible and other faith-based sources as part of our nation’s development,” Dacus added. “To exclude them entirely is not neutrality—it is revisionism.”
PJI continues to advocate for a balanced and constitutionally sound approach to education—one that neither promotes nor suppresses religion, but instead reflects the full scope of historical and cultural reality.
“Students deserve an honest and complete education,” Dacus said. “That includes understanding the ideas, influences, and texts that helped shape our nation and its people.”
Pacific Justice Institute remains committed to defending religious liberty and ensuring that educational policies reflect both constitutional protections and historical integrity.
Learn more about Pacific Justice Institute’s work defending religious freedoms:
WWW.PJI.ORG.
