Should public schools give course credit for off-campus religious instruction?

It's becoming a hot topic in Ohio. A bill has just passed the state house with some Democrats in support.

http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2014/01/credit_for_religious_education.html#incart_river_default

A bill that would allow public school boards to give credit to high school students for off-campus religious education pitted two Statehouse Democrats from Greater Cleveland against each other Wednesday.

The bill, which passed through the Ohio House of Representatives by a 78-15 margin, would let school boards determine credit for an off-campus religious course based on "purely secular criteria," including classroom time, coursework, assessment methods and instructor qualifications. The credits wouldn't substitute any "core" curriculum courses, but could serve as electives.

Rep. Dan Ramos, D-Lorain, said giving credit for religious education would create an educational rift in schools, but one of the bill's sponsors, Cleveland Democrat Bill Patmon, said the moral implications of religious education are key to getting the country "turned around."

"We are almost interfering with the education of these children and with their ability to get credits based on what religion they belong to," Ramos said.