How can a VA public school have a bible class during school hours?

[madfloridian]

It looks like they go off campus for it, leaving the non-participating students behind on campus. I am a retired teacher in a very conservative area, and I don't remember anything like this.
Years ago we were allowed to spend time memorizing verses for summer camp, but they stopped that in the 60s I think. This surprised me.

http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=20158

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--A school board in Staunton, Va., has said children in its district may continue the tradition of leaving school for weekly Bible classes despite complaints from some parents that students who choose to stay behind are disadvantaged.

In a 5-1 decision Feb. 14, board members ruled that the weekday Bible classes attended by more than 80 percent of the district's first-, second- and third-graders will be allowed for the remainder of the current school year but the issue will be revisited for next year.

The voluntary 30-minute classes came under fire from some parents who said their children were missing out on valuable instruction time during the period they waited for their classmates to return, according to The Washington Post. Besides the idle time, students who opted not to attend Bible classes were stigmatized, parents said.

Staunton, part of Virginia's Shenandoah Valley, is along a corridor of Interstate 81 known as the state's Bible Belt. The school district is one of about 20 in the region that release public school students from classes during the school day for religious instruction at nearby churches, The Post said...."

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. There was a huge thread on this just a month or so ago

I too found it hard to believe. I was also stunned at the number of DUers who saw nothing wrong with it.

[madfloridian]

3. They thought it was ok? During school hours?

Even in the heavily Southern Baptist area where I live, this would be frowned upon.

[Nikia]

2. Why can't they have Bible class after school?

Wouldn't that make sense?

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. Makes sense to me

but apparently the parents in this district like the idea of doing it during the school day.

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. Here you go

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1233822

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1238822

[madfloridian]

6. I missed both of those..Thanks.

I am surprised.

[proud2BlibKansan]

8. Fasten your seatbelt

there are some strange replies on both of those threads.

[fujiyama]

9. Don't be surprised

I've seen a bunch of posts around here lately, which even at the slightest criticism of organized religion, fundamentalism, and the coroding of the wall between church and state, start complaining about Christians being oppressed. Freeperish kind of.

[Philosophy]

7. They have those around here too

In a town about 20 miles south of here a church has set up a trailer exactly 1 foot outside the boundary of the public school property, and groups of kids from the shool go to bible classes there every day.