Interesting. I know people already teaching "Bible as literature" in public schools in California.
E On Apr 19, 2012, at 10:55 AM, [email protected] wrote: > > > Ariz. Governor Signs Bill to Allow Bible Classes in Public Schools > > > By Michael Gryboski , Christian Post Reporter > April 18, 2012|7:52 pm > Arizona Governor Jan Brewer has signed into law a bill that allows the > establishing of elective classes that focus on the Bible and its influence on > western civilization. > > Sponsored by State Representative Terri Proud, House Bill 2563 was passed by > a 21 to 9 vote in the state Senate last Thursday and signed by Brewer on > Tuesday. > > According to HB 2563, "A school district or charter school may offer an > elective course pertaining to how the Bible has influenced western culture > for pupils in grades nine through twelve." > > "A teacher who instructs a course offered under this section in its > appropriate historical context and in good faith shall be immune from civil > liability and disciplinary action," reads the bill. > > The Bible class elective would teach students, among other things, "the > contents of the Old Testament and the New Testament," "the history recorded > by the Old Testament and the New Testament," and the "influence of the Old > Testament and the New Testament on laws, history, government, literature, > art, music, customs, morals, values and culture." > > HB 2563 was not without its critics, as church-state groups like Americans > United for the Separation of Church and State openly opposed the bill's > passage. Joe Conn, spokesman for Americans United, told The Christian Post > that he was "disappointed" by the signing of the bill. > > > "This bill is not about improving academic achievement; it's about > introducing religious indoctrination into the schools and currying favor with > conservative religious voters," said Conn. > > "I think most public schools will decide not to offer Bible courses. They are > already strapped for funds, so I doubt if they'll want to use scarce > resources to intervene in such a controversial topic." > > While Conn believes that the "Bible obviously played an important role in > history," he also felt that having a social studies class about it would be > difficult given the many Bible translations and interpretations. > > "Many…denominations use different versions of the Bible and come to > dramatically different theological understandings about what it means," said > Conn. > > "It is very difficult for a public school to teach about the Bible without > wandering into constitutional and religious difficulties." > > Rep. Proud, the chief sponsor of the bill, told CP in an earlier interview > that she "worked with various attorneys and other individuals to ensure this > bill is constitutionally sound." > > "Many professors from various universities like Harvard, Yale etc. have > stated that biblical knowledge is a key factor to a successful education," > said Proud. > > "As the U.S. Supreme Court has repeatedly said: '[It] might well be said that > one's education is not complete without a study of comparative religion, or > the history of religion and its relationship to the advancement of > civilization.'" > > With the bill now officially a law, Arizona becomes the sixth state to allow > school districts to create elective classes studying the Bible. The other > states are Georgia, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and South Carolina. > > > -- > Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community > <[email protected]> > Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/RadicalCentrism > Radical Centrism website and blog: http://RadicalCentrism.org -- Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community <[email protected]> Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/RadicalCentrism Radical Centrism website and blog: http://RadicalCentrism.org
