Texas public schools required to teach Bible this year?

onestepforward

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Mon Aug-17-09 02:56 PM
Original message

Texas public schools required to teach Bible this year?

I sure some of you have seen this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=6324095&mesg_id=6324095

What happened to separation of church and state? Is this even legal?

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sonias

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Mon Aug-17-09 03:16 PM
Response to Original message

1. What happened is that the Rs controlled the Lege

They passed the bill when they were fully in control of the Lege. Now the one thing that ACLU was able to win in the lawsuit was that the course must be taught in an objective way i.e. not just pro-Christian. The course is an elective i.e. not mandatory.

ACLU Press Release

Texas School Board Agrees To Stop Teaching Unconstitutional Bible Class In Public Schools

Mar 5th, 2008

Texas School Board Agrees To Stop Teaching Unconstitutional Bible Class In Public Schools
ODESSA, TX - The Ector County School Board agreed today to stop teaching a course in its public schools that unconstitutionally promotes a particular interpretation of the Bible that is not shared by Jews, Catholics, Orthodox Christians, and most Protestants.

The agreement settles a federal lawsuit filed in May 2007 that was brought by eight Odessa parents and taxpayers who argued that the course, created by a religious organization, violated their constitutional right to religious liberty by promoting specific religious doctrines to children in their community. The parents were represented by the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Texas, People For the American Way Foundation and the law firm of Jenner and Block LLP

(snip)
Public schools may offer courses about the Bible if they do so in an objective and balanced way, said Judith E. Schaeffer, Legal Director of People For the American Way Foundation. "But the evidence is overwhelming that these constitutional principles have been ignored in Ector County schools. Students have been taught one religious interpretation of the Bible. That's not only violating the Constitution, it's also giving students a bad education."

So to answer your question - it is legal. However civil liberties groups like ACLU are ever vigilant to make sure the districts don't cross the line. If you think your school district is doing it wrong - let ACLU know. They will take them to court.

Sonia

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onestepforward

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Mon Aug-17-09 03:52 PM
Response to Reply #1

3. Thank you for the information.

I'm glad to know that at least it isn't mandatory. Although I don't have kids, I will keep up with this story and I'm very thankful we have the ACLU. As soon as I can, I need to renew my membership with them too.

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niccolos_smile

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Mon Aug-17-09 03:49 PM
Response to Original message

2. It is legal...

Edited on Mon Aug-17-09 03:51 PM by niccolos_smile

because it is not supposed to be an evangelical course, but more of a history course.

I read the article on KLTV's website, and I think it gives the wrong impression of this law. If they're talking about HB1287 from the 80th, then we're talking about an elective course, and the law states that if fewer than 15 students register for the class the school does not have to offer it that semester. They're required to offer the elective, but students do not have to attend the class.

I don't really have a problem with a class which examines the Bible in it's historical context. I don't think people have a good understanding of it in that manner, nor do they understand it's influence in literature, etc. These are things which would be useful to students. E.g., when I was in college, I believe I was the only student who understood the allusion to Cain and Able in one of the works we were studying (if you don't understand where the allusions come from, then you can have a more difficult time understanding the author's point).

This isn't going to make anyone happy though. Lots of people along the religious spectrum will be unhappy with someone teaching the Bible, regardless of whether they are Christian or atheist.

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onestepforward

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Mon Aug-17-09 04:21 PM
Response to Reply #2

4. Do you know if other world religions will be covered too

Edited on Mon Aug-17-09 04:34 PM by onestepforward

or is it exclusively Christian?

(added) I know that some schools in Australia have representatives from all religions come and talk to kids during electives so that they can learn a few basics and ask questions.

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niccolos_smile

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Mon Aug-17-09 07:36 PM
Response to Reply #4

6. It is just the Bible

HB1287 only addresses the Bible, which would cover Judaism and Christianity, if you're exploring it from a historical perspective.

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kentauros

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Tue Aug-18-09 01:21 PM
Response to Reply #6

11. Of course, all the say is "The Bible"

and assume everyone understands it's the religious one.

If I were a parent, I'd take advantage of their assumptions and send my kid to school with The Cake Bible just to mess with stupid administrators' heads ;)

It's also the only bible I own :D

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tbyg52

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Mon Aug-17-09 04:28 PM
Response to Reply #2

5. >>I don't really have a problem with a class which examines the Bible in its historical context.

I'd prefer that they looked at *all* the major religious books, like that's gonna happen in TX.....

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niccolos_smile

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Mon Aug-17-09 07:38 PM
Response to Reply #5

7. I agree

A world religions course would be a good course to have in high school. They exist in colleges and universities; no reason why you couldn't have it in high school as an elective.

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onestepforward

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Mon Aug-17-09 09:17 PM
Response to Reply #7

9. I agree too for a world religion elective. n/t

Edited on Mon Aug-17-09 09:42 PM by onestepforward

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FloriTexan

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Mon Aug-17-09 09:10 PM
Response to Original message

8. Unfortunately, I've hard of it....

So has Olbermann - Texas was WORST PERSON tonight for it and he asked us to just go ahead a secede. F'ing great!

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johncoby2

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Tue Aug-18-09 07:31 AM
Response to Original message

10. The class is optional and......

When they did this they didnt put any money into training so schools are being very cautious about it. Many will not even provide the course because they are afraid of crossing the line between church and state without the training opening themselves up for a lawsuit.

Stupid republicans.

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TxRider

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Tue Aug-18-09 01:44 PM
Response to Original message

12. Actually...

Edited on Tue Aug-18-09 01:45 PM by TxRider

I think religion should be required to be taught at schools, as part of social studies.

Nothing could foster tolerance more IMO than every kid knowing about every religion at least at a basic level.

And how irresponsible is it to send kids out into the world where 80% of people are religious without at least covering the basics so they can relate at some level to those they will work for, work with, interact with for the rest of their lives?

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ParkieDem

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Mon Aug-24-09 11:52 AM
Response to Reply #12

13. I agree.

As a Texan, believe me I know how wacky things get here, but we often get a bad rap on DU and in other progressive circles over things like this.

The earlier poster had it right: school districts are required to offer the bible course, but no student is forced to take it -- it's purely an elective, and teaches the Bible in historical context. In addition, if the class doesn't have at least 15 students sign up, the district does not have to offer it.

Here in the Dallas area, I haven't heard a peep about this one way or the other from people involved in local school districts. It's pretty much a non-issue.

When I was in high school (in a small-town, conservative Texas community), I still got a great education with respect to religion. We read the Bible and several other religious texts as literature in English class. My world history teacher taught a great section on world religions, in which we examined the differences (and similarities) between Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism.

I don't see this class indoctrinating a legion of Texas children into conservative evangelicalsim.

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