[deh]

ODESSA, Texas - The school board in this West Texas town voted unanimously to add a Bible class to its high school curriculum.



Hundreds of people, most of them supporters of the proposal, packed the board meeting Tuesday night. More than 6,000 Odessa residents had signed a petition supporting the class.

Some residents, however, said the school board acted too quickly. Others said they feared a national constitutional fight.

Barring any hurdles, the class should be added to the curriculum in fall 2006 and taught as a history or literature course. The school board still must develop a curriculum, which board member Floy Hinson said should be open for public review.

The board had heard a presentation in March from Mike Johnson, a representative of the Greensboro, N.C.-based National Council on Bible Curriculum in Public Schools, who said that coursework designed by that organization is not about proselytizing or preaching.

But People for the American Way and the American Civil Liberties Union have criticized the council, saying its materials promote religion.

Johnson said students in the elective class would learn such things as the geography of the Middle East and the influence of the Bible on history and culture.

"How can students understand Leonardo da Vinci's 'Last Supper' or Handel's 'Messiah' if they don't understand the reference from which they came?" Johnson said. The group's Web site says its curriculum has received backing in 292 school districts in 35 states.

In Frankenmuth, Mich., a similar proposal led to a yearlong controversy before the school board voted in January not to offer such a course.

[Stoner]

Johnson said students in the elective class would learn such things as the geography of the Middle East and the influence of the Bible on history and culture.

As an elective, I wouldn't have a complaint.

[iltos]

i don't have a problem with it, tho feel it'd be far more educational to offer a comparative religions elective.

[Mulderator]

As an elective class--there is no problem with Constitutional issues, IMO. Schools must adhere to basic requirements of course structure (math, history, science, etc.) but have the freedom to offer elective courses such as lanuauges, arts, humanities, etc.

The course can become more of a problem however, if it becomes expected that kids take it--in other words, if there is some advantage given for taking the class, it would present Constitutional problems.

Again, this is the great confusion people have with separation of church and state--thinking the state can never have anything to do with relgion--which is not what the Constitution says.

[AcaCandy]

What next, a class about the Koran

[bassetman]

Originally Posted by AcaCandy

What next, a class about the Koran

[bassetman]

Originally Posted by Mulder

As an elective class--there is no problem with Constitutional issues, IMO. Schools must adhere to basic requirements of course structure (math, history, science, etc.) but have the freedom to offer elective courses such as lanuauges, arts, humanities, etc.

The course can become more of a problem however, if it becomes expected that kids take it--in other words, if there is some advantage given for taking the class, it would present Constitutional problems.

Again, this is the great confusion people have with separation of church and state--thinking the state can never have anything to do with relgion--which is not what the Constitution says.

I think it's fine, if taught as subject matter, and not as "Truth" which is what I am willing to bet they have in mind.
I agree with Candy!

[AcaCandy]

I've had the pleasure of being in Odessa once I think I took a wrong turn at the Caverns


Trust me, they'll be teaching it as the truth.

[bassetman]

Originally Posted by AcaCandy

I've had the pleasure of being in Odessa once I think I took a wrong turn at the Caverns


Trust me, they'll be teaching it as the truth.

I figgered!

[LANMaster]

No problem as an elective, so long as a late registration isn't forced to take the class because all other electives are filled up.

I also have no problem teaching the Qu'ran as an elective as well.

I think both must be at a High School level, though, and not Jr. High or earlier.
Religion requires some maturity.

I also think they should allow the teaching of strict evolution theory as an elective as well.

[WarC]

Heck, they had a class on Greek Mythology in my highschool, so as an elective class I would support "Bible Class" as long as it had some alternatives. Ideally there should be an overall "Understanding Theology" class or something, IMO, to study and discuss all of the major religious texts...Now that would be a class I would actually be interested in!!

[DiSaidSo]

It's being taught as a literature or history class. Don't assume that just because this story is coming out of Texas, that they're going to be teaching the Bible as truth.

The group's Web site says its curriculum has received backing in 292 school districts in 35 states.

So no one pays attention to other 34 states? Have a little faith.

That being said, the Bible has indeed influenced many historical events. I think it would also be neato to include the Koran and the Torah in this class, since those religious works also influence world events. Personally, I wish I had learned more about other religions in my younger years. I think it would be preposterous to try to pretend that the Bible (or the Koran or the Torah) has no influence in the world, just as I think it's preposterous to pretend like evolution doesn't exist. Offer both classes and maybe both sides will shut up about the whole thing. Whose "civil liberties" are being "violated" here?

[onemundaneso]

Originally Posted by DiSaidSo

Whose "civil liberties" are being "violated" here?

Doesn't matter. Put "Bible" and "public school" in the same sentence and people are going to start getting defensive. I agree with what most have said. As long as it's a high school class and it is completely up to the student to choose whether or not to take it, I'm all for it. It does seem that if they're going to offer a course on the Bible, other religions should be considered as well. And let's not do the stereotype thing in here, okay? Thanks.

[AcaCandy]

Separation of church and state.

Teach anything you wish in a private school.



















Where's the Al-Qaeda training class?

[DiSaidSo]

There is a huge difference between teaching the Bible as a form of literature and teaching to hate the infidels.