Having seen some of the material already at use in many Bible courses in
Texas, I can only say that the State board of education is being incredibly
irresponsible in not spelling out exactly what can and can't be taught in
such classes. Local school districts are inevitably going to teach this
course in constitutionally dubious ways without such guidance. Terri Leo
claims that providing such guidelines might lead to a lawsuit; not providing
them is going to lead to many such suits - and sooner rather than later.
They are doing the same thing the Louisiana legislature is doing with the
recent academic freedom legislation, inviting local schools into a Dover
trap. The result is going to be very ugly and very expensive.
Ed Brayton
-Original Message-
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Gibbens, Daniel G.
Sent: Monday, July 21, 2008 5:20 PM
To: 'Law Religion issues for Law Academics'
Subject: RE: Bible class rules set for Texas schools - Faith- msnbc.com
Justice Brennan's well-known statement, concurring in Schempp, 374 US at
300: teaching about the Bible in classes in literature or history is
permissible. As literature, surely teaching about the Bible is different
from other literature items, distinctively involving the necessity of
treating these issues:
The fact that some people believe it (or some of it) is the word of God --
others believe that it is essential to understanding their religion --
others believe it is interesting literature but otherwise irrelevant -- and
thinking internationally, it is one several books presenting similar issues,
e.g., the Koran.
Arguably, if teachers are not so advised/trained, there are indeed critical
church-state issues.
Dan
Daniel G. Gibbens
Regents' Professor of Law Emeritus
University of Oklahoma
-Original Message-
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Joel Sogol
Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2008 3:41 AM
To: Religionlaw
Subject: Bible class rules set for Texas schools - Faith- msnbc.com
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25742567/
Joel Sogol
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