Texas has made teaching the bible mandatory (Texas, when are you going to cecede?)

[Mark Mentzer]

Does the Bible belong in a public classroom?

Starting this year, Public high schools in Texas will be required to teach students about the Bible.

Even though the courses are elective, not mandatory, and are supposed to focus on how Christianity has influenced American history and society, some parents are furious.

"I don't want anybody teaching their religious beliefs to my child unless they want to send their child to my house and let me teach them my religious views," one parent told Texas news station KLTV. "There is no difference."

But does one have to be -- or become -- a believer in order to study the Bible?

USA Today columnist William R. Mattox says no. "You can't effectively explore American history without teaching about the Rev. King," he points out, "and... you can't teach about the civil rights leader without helping students understand the meaning and power of his frequent references to 'the Promised Land' and other scriptural metaphors, verses and concepts."

Texas House Bill 1287, which passed in September 2007 but was not enforced because of problems with training and funding, stipulates that the Bible must be taught in an objective way and "would neither promote nor disparage any religion." The goal, according to bill, is to "teach students knowledge of biblical content, characters, poetry, and narratives that are prerequisites to understanding contemporary society and culture," as well as familiarize students with the contents, history, literary style, and structure of the Old and New Testaments.

The problem, I'd argue, is when instruction steps over the line into indoctrination. While the bill sets up some stark parameters to prevent that from happening, the curriculum will be left up to individual teachers, and a precedent has already been set: A review of Bible courses currently taught in 25 Texas school districts found that most of the courses were "explicitly devotional" and taught by people with no academic training in biblical or religious studies and who were not familiar with the issues of separation of church and state.

"Some classes promote creation science. Some classes denigrate Judaism. Some classes explicitly encourage students to convert to Christianity or to adopt Christian devotional practices," Mark Chancey, associate professor in religious studies at Southern Methodist University, told The Associated Press. "This is all well documented, and the board knows it."

I think it's fair to say that American history, politics, and even pop culture has been informed by Christianity and the Bible. But in today's multi-cultural, global society, where's the push to teach students about other religions? As a commenter at Reddit.com wrote: "I look forward to Texas schools offering classes on the Talmud, Q'uran, Tao Te Ching, LaVey's Satanic Bible, Dianetics, Eastern Orthodox Bible, Wicca, and Atheist/Agnostic texts as well. Wait, they're not doing that? Hmm."

That might be pushing it a bit, but still: Isn't it equally important that high school students in Texas have an understanding of how other religions have shaped the rest of the world?

[Madhatterat60]

[Madhatterat60]

yank their kids and home-school the..

Oh, but I have 'friends' who have done EXACTLY that...and I've seen the results. Trust me...leaving them IN school...even chitty schools...is a better option. The problem with the TexAss morons is they think anyone who draws a breath can teach!

[Judi]

We also have the Dallas Cowboys, you know, "America's Team", lol.

[WS]

Okay, everyone, it seems to me, the law as written is not so bad. (I agree it will probably not be kept as an impartial lesson, nonetheless, Christianity has played a major role in the history of the US, in justification of the extermination of the Native Americans, in the unequal treatment of African Americans and in the foundation of some of the colonies (for example) and these influences should be discussable.

[James Worede]

"Bible mandatory" is very extreme, however, if they include other form of religions, in the form of historical significanies, I don't see any problems. And, ofcourse, it shouldn't be taught by preachers of any of those religions. It should be taught by history teachers. Otherwise, it crosses the line drawen by founders.

[Grace Linda]

If you think that is scary, text books in this country are determined in large part be what the Texan School board wants. In other words, if Texas now says that this should not only be taught in class be should be included in text books, You've Got It.

[cyndromeda]

i agree - a world religions course is fine, but the idea that a bible studies class be a mandatory offering is insane. and despite the way the law is written, it has already been evidenced that it is not being taught objectively, as the law states. in fact, i am guessing that the language that says it must be objective was put in the bill so the ones opposed would vote for it. ugggh and to also have them pushing creation science in some of the classes. speaking of oxymorons - creation science. the science that denies all true science, makes up "data" and uses the bible as backup.
have a lot of problem with religion being taught in school. if you believe, you can study this information in church.
texas, we would have no issue with you seceding - seriously.

[Madhatterat60]

"I don't want anybody teaching their religious beliefs to my child unless they want to send their child to my house and let me teach them my religious views," one parent told Texas news station KLTV. "There is no difference."

THIS is THE problem with approaching ANYTHING that smacks of religion...of ANY type...in the classroom. And NO one is worse about this than "christians." Try to talk to them about "Intelligent Design" and the argument for keeping the church...ANY church...out of the classroom is clear.

[Mark Mentzer]

The problem is though, the mandatory nature. What if a child is being raised without religion. This would undermine their way to bring that child up.

[Judi]

Secular humanism is being forced on Christians, but I haven't heard of anyone bringing that up as a problem for undermining the way Christians bring up their children. It looks like parents are going to have to be more vigilant in talking to their children about what they are being taught in schools. There's always going to be parents that have to do damage control from the crap the kids are learning at school. I wish the schools would just stick to the 3 Rs, history, government, and basic life skills (e.g., manners/etiquette, team building, and respect for authority). Parents should be instructing on morality, faith-issues, and daily life skills (budgeting, phone and bathroom etiquette, paying bills, chores, cooking, home repairs).

BTW, this is HB 1287 and is NOT mandatory. It says the school (9th grade on up) "may" offer the "elective" course http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/80R/billtext/html/HB01287F.htm

Okay, well I've probably done enough damage here, and I'm glad you all love Texas, God, and Christians!! Makes living in America feel much safer! lol

[Judi]

Mornin' Maggie! ;-)

I did some further research and found that New York, Alabama, Tennessee, and a number of other states, are also offering courses on the Bible. Apparently, Alabama was the first state to adopt a textbook for the academic study of the Bible. So, it looks like you guys will have start hating on other states, too!

Here is an excerpt from an article in USA Today, entitled, "Teach the Bible? Of Course!"

"Professors sign on

Harvard professor Robert Kiely, for one, agrees. In 2006, he participated in an academic survey of professors from many of America's leading universities — including Yale, Princeton, Brown, Rice, California-Berkeley and Stanford. The survey — commissioned by the Bible Literacy Project, which promotes academic Bible study in public schools — found an overwhelming consensus among top professors that incoming college students need to be well-versed in the stories, themes and words of the Bible.

"If a student doesn't know any Bible literature, he or she will simply not understand whole elements of Shakespeare, Sidney, Spenser, Milton, Pope, Wordsworth. One could go on and on and on," Kiely told Concordia professor Marie Wachlin and her research team.

"Knowledge of the Bible can be a key to unlocking other subjects. . . especially literature, art, music and social studies," say Chuck Stetson, co-editor of the visually stunning high school textbook The Bible and Its Influence, and founder of the Bible Literacy Project.

And knowledge of the Bible can be a key to understanding much of today's pop culture. Like Stephen Colbert's irreverent humor on Comedy Central. Or Jim Carrey's screwball spirituality in Bruce Almighty. Or the devilishly clever title of the band White Stripes' release, Get Behind Me Satan.

Not surprisingly, students growing up in non-religious homes are often behind the curve. "Many of my students are quite secular and have very little knowledge of the Bible," Northwestern's Newman says. "This is a major disadvantage."

Indeed, Newman says that trying to appreciate biblical allusions in literature without an underlying knowledge of Scripture is like trying to appreciate a good joke when someone has to explain the punch line. You might eventually "get" the joke, she says, but by the time you do, "it's not funny anymore."

Interestingly, a 2008 study published in Sociological Quarterly found that regular church attendance positively affected students' grade point averages. And while lead researcher Jennifer Glanville of the University of Iowa attributed much of this effect to the social and psychological benefits of being enmeshed in a wider community of like-minded peers and adults, some of this effect might also be explained by the greater biblical literacy young people typically acquire by attending church."

http://www.bibleliteracy.org/site/News/bibl_news090816USAToday.htm
http://www.bibleliteracy.org/site/News/index.htm
http://bibleliteracy.org/bibcdocs/TheBibleAndItsInfluenceSample.pdf