Texas school board adds Bible class to high schools

[Freedom_from_Chains]

"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."

ROTFLMAO Yeah I bet it's not about proselytizing or anything like that, LOL, yeah, that's it.


Texas school board adds Bible class to high schools
4/27/2005, 9:49 a.m. ET
The Associated Press

ODESSA, Texas (AP) — 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.

http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/michigan/index.ssf?/base/news-24/1114608823217180.xml&storylist=newsmichigan

[fertilizeonarbusto]

1. Haven't these assholes

ever heard of Sunday School? I'm so sick of their being so insecure in their beliefs they are not comfy until they are shoved down everyone's throats. I hope a) they get their asses sued b)every religion in sight demands their holy books get taught too.

[flordehinojos]

2. to quote one of the mugs from sheila sample's cafe press store:

"THEOCRACY IS UNAMERICAN"

[BlueEyedSon]

3. THAT'S UNCONSTITUTIONAL! Why do they hate America?

Let them secede, fer cryin' out loud!

[ananda]

4. sheesh

I'm so sick of these smarmy hypocrites.

It's a public school, for heaven's sake.

Sue

[Horse with no Name]

5. I'm going to get flamed here

I don't believe in mandatory religion in schools.
I don't believe the church should invade state.
With that being said, as long as this class remains an elective and isn't forced on any student, then I don't see why it is an issue.
IF they can guarantee that would never happen, then let them keep the class.
Perhaps we can use this as a leverage tool to keep creationism out of the mainstream classes and in settings such as elective courses such as this.
Whether we like it or not, we will have to compromise some issues.
This seems like a good one to start.
If we give them elective bible study in schools, then we can keep our elective science based courses.

okay putting flame suit on....

[Freedom_from_Chains]

8. I won't flame you

I have thought for many years that it is unfortunate we don't teach world religions in our schools to give students a larger perspective of religion, particularly as it relates to history.

One cannot fully understand history without understanding the context within which it occurs. Without context, it simply becomes the memorization of places and datesand people. Clearly, when studying the development of western civilization, religion plays a major part in it. Perhaps if we had taught such in our schools more people would understand why there is the concept, within our Constitution, of separation of church and state, and why there is such a need for it.

However, the people who are currently backing the religious right have no desire to teach religion in school as secular understanding of history. If they did, they would not have an interest in trying to introduce creationism as science in the schools. Their goal is to proselytize and convert people to the christian religion.

[teenagebambam]

11. I am forced to agree...

....as long as the Elective status applies, and it is presented in an historical/literary context. I took similar classes in High School (elective) and college (non-elective, Southern Baptist-affiliated school) and, especially at the college level, it really opened a lot of these kids' eyes as to how the Bible is areflection of the time s it was written, and maybe NOT infallible......

[benevolent dictator]

13. I went to a private school

where we learned about religions and mythology as part of the regular, required curriculum, we learned about Norse myths, Greek myths/history, Roman myths/history, Egyptian mythology, Persian mythology, all kinds. We also learned about Judaism, Islam, and Christianity.

These were all spread out over many years, so we could actually go somewhat in depth with them and discuss the history and culture as well. I would have no problem with a class in high school that taught about all religions, but if they're calling it a "Bible Class" then I don't think it should be allowed.

Not unless they offer similar courses on the religious texts of all other major religions, anyway.

[prodigal_green]

6. If they can do it in a, ahem, "fair and balanced" way

as a history lesson, then it might be a good idea. For example, the political environment at the time of Christ; the fact that Christianity was only one of hundreds of Egyptian "Mystery Cults" and only one of hundreds of self-proclaimed messiahs in the region at the time; why Constantine forced Christianity down the throats of the Roman Empire; the crusades; the inquisition; the reformation and counter-reformation complete with witch burning; the inter-sect violence in the Americas; missionary genocides, etc., etc., etc.

Then they can do a full examination of the millenial cultist William Miller and his followers of the mid-19th Century and his direct descendants, the Rapture Ready christo-fascist zombie brigades (thanks Marc Maron).

[Hand]

7. Da Vinci??? HANDEL?????

That's a big effing laff. :rofl:
I've got $20 down sez that neither one of those names appears ANYWHERE in the Texas high school curriculum. Any takers?

[beam me up scottie]

12. I thought the same thing.

My ass that they even know who they were...

That's what they want people to believe but they're dressing this up the same way they do when they call creationalism "intelligent design".

Nobody should be fooled by this for even a minute, their agenda does not include art or music appreciation.

[Birthmark]

9. I don't see a problem.

As long as it isn't really proselytizing, there is no Constitutional conflict, imo.

[blm]

10. Will be a nice huge demagogue point by the 2006 election cycle.

The timing is planned exactly for that purpose.

[Moderator]

14. Freedom_from_Chains

Per DU copyright rules
please post only four
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Thank you.


DU Moderator