Georgia Moves Closer to Approving Classes Based on Bible

Parent Cafe
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<p><a href=“http://www.cnn.com/2007/EDUCATION/03/08/bible.classes.ap/index.html[/url]”>http://www.cnn.com/2007/EDUCATION/03/08/bible.classes.ap/index.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>ATLANTA, Georgia (AP) – Georgia is poised to introduce two literature classes on the Bible in public schools next year, a move some critics say would make the state the first to take an explicit stance endorsing – and funding – biblical teachings. </p>

<p>The Bible already is incorporated into some classes in Georgia and other states, but some critics say the board’s move, which makes the Bible the classes’ main text, treads into dangerous turf.</p>

<p>On a list of classes approved Thursday by the Georgia Board of Education are Literature and History of the Old Testament Era, and Literature and History of the New Testament Era. The classes, approved last year by the Legislature, will not be required, and the state’s 180 school systems can decide for themselves whether to offer them.</p>

<p>The school board’s unanimous vote set up a 30-day public comment period, after which it is expected to give final approval.</p>

<p>Senate Majority Leader Tommie Williams, the Republican who sponsored the plan, said the Bible plays a major role in history and is important in understanding many classic literary works.</p>

<p>“It’s not just 'The Good Book,”’ Williams said. “It’s a good book.”</p>

<p>Charles Haynes of the First Amendment Center, a nonpartisan civil liberties group, has said the Georgia policy is the nation’s first to endorse and fund Bible classes on a statewide level.</p>

<p>The bill approved overwhelmingly in the Legislature was tailored to make it clear the courses would not stray into religious teaching, Williams said.</p>

<p>The measure calls for the courses to be taught “in an objective and nondevotional manner with no attempt made to indoctrinate students.”</p>

<p>But critics say that while the language may pass constitutional muster, that could change in the classroom if instructors stray.</p>

<p>Maggie Garrett, legislative counsel for the Georgia branch of the American Civil Liberties Union, said the curriculum approved Tuesday – like the Legislation itself – is vague.</p>

<p>“They didn’t put in any outlines describing what they can and can’t do constitutionally,” she said. “The same traps are there for teachers who decide to teach the class.”</p>

<p>Some teachers might seek to include their own beliefs or be pushed by students into conversations that include religious proselytizing, Garrett said.</p>

<p>During last year’s campaign-period legislative session, Democrats surprised majority Republicans by introducing a plan to teach the Bible in public schools. Republicans, who control both chambers, quickly responded with their own version, which passed and was signed into law by Gov. Sonny Perdue.</p>

<p>OK, CCers – let’s have fun.</p>

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<p>I actually don’t have a problem with this. Teaching the Bible in a Lit class seems appropriate to me…much better than in a science class!</p>

<p>It’s not a mandatory class. Why not let kids who are interested learn more about the Bible? </p>

<p>At my kids’ private high school, their Lit classes studied several religious texts, including the Bible. Both of my kids felt the class added to their understanding of the world. I realize that the Georgia schools are not planning on talking about the Koran or Buddhism…yet… but a close reading of the Bible with a dose of biblical history would be a good thing.</p>

<p>I also wouldn’t worry too much about proselytizing. These are high school kids -that might be the kiss of death for the class and the teacher at a public school.</p>

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<p>I could see it as a general study combining the “books” of the other mainstream religions in the world. But hey, that would be against the plan, wouldn’t it?</p>

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<p>Biblical references, Greek & Roman mythology, and a broad knbowledge of idioms are part of a comprehensive education. I was really short changed by my Catholic school upbringing where we never studied the Bible, either for literary or religious purposes. </p>

<p>If the curriculum approaches this in a truly “objective and nondevotional manner with no attempt made to indoctrinate students,” it’s a good thing, IMHO.</p>

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<p>Opie, the books of other mainstream religions have not impacted Western civilization to nearly the same extent as the Bible has. The Bible is the obvious starting point. Then tackle the rest.</p>

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<p>“Bible as Literature” classes were around back when I was a teenager in the Pleistocene. That, however, was a less-strident age. I see absolutely nothing wrong with an elective course in that, or practically anything else that would earn the equivalent of a PG rating. Bring on “Great Religious Tracts as Literature” if you want. There was also a classical mythology class in my high school. Gasp!</p>

<p>FWIW, my son was just required to read “Siddhartha” by Hesse in his 9th grade English class. There was no parental outrage concerning having the tenets of Buddhism “rammed down” our kids’ throats. It wasn’t even an elective. (The only outrage is that our poor son had to read Hesse’s nearly-incomprehensible prose. If there was ever a book that didn’t need to be written…)</p>

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<p>The Bible is often included in the context of both history and literature classes. I have no problem whatsoever with its use, as long its words are not expected to be “the” words.</p>

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<p>Good point, WashDad. My Catholic H.S. Latin classes were chock full of mythology translations, yet nobody accused the nuns of encouraging Jupiter worship.</p>

<p>If a zealous evangelical teacher crosses the line, I’m sure he’ll be summarily dealt with.</p>

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<p>“Opie, the books of other mainstream religions have not impacted Western civilization to nearly the same extent as the Bible has. The Bible is the obvious starting point. Then tackle the rest.”</p>

<p>I dunno SS, it’s seems another book and it’s followers have impacted western civilization pretty good these last few years? </p>

<p>And could our general lack of understanding of what they believe be part of the problem? If we taught kids about the similarities and differences in each book, would that not truly educate?</p>

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<p>As long as it is put into action in the way the article suggests, then I really don’t see the problem. The Bible is essential for studying literature at the advanced high school and college levels. Perhaps they could make it a year-long course (which I’m assuming it’s not, currently) and study mythology, too. I think that class would be incredibly useful for many students in college. </p>

<p>I read parts of the Bible in English class in high school and again in a humanities class in college. I do not believe you can completely read it as literature, but you can read it as a religious text without teaching that religion.</p>

<p>Opie, in the case of Western literature, the Bible plays a much more crucial role than any other religious text, perhaps rivaled by the religious teachings of Greek or Roman mythology. The Koran would be a good read for a Religious Studies class or a class about the current conflict (and its build up), but it does not play a large role in Western literature, which seems to be the focus of the class being proposed.</p>

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<p>My HS offers a course called Myth and Bible.</p>

<p>I never took anything like that during HS or college – nor did I have any religious upbringing. I have always felt very ignorant about this stuff – and I’ll never win at Jeopardy!</p>

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<p>

Exactly. Once you get into discussing “what they believe,” you’re into a comparative religions class. That doesn’t seem to be the purpose of the Georgia classes; they’re classified as literature.</p>

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<p>I’m philosophically on-board with StickerShock and WashDad, even though I don’t have much faith (no pun intended) in the objectiveness of SOME Georgia policy makers, based on direct experience.</p>

<p>As a practical matter, can ‘the Bible as Literature’ really be given its due at the high school level? Of course, it will depend upon the ability of the teacher. What I am anticipating, with much amusement, is the reaction of distraught parents whose teenagers come home having announced they were…um, er, ah…really entranced by the “Song of Solomon” in the Bible. Talk about racy.</p>

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<p>

Me neither. Unless they have a category for Catholic Catechism. That’s been etched into my brain.</p>

<p>As an English major, I was ALWAYS having to research all the Biblical references, while some other kids seemed to have them stashed away in their brains for easy retrieval.</p>

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<p>

Yeah, my D studied the Bible in 9th grade, albeit in a Catholic school religion class, and was shocked at all the incest & debauchery.</p>

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<p>Lake Washington, are you familiar with The Bible Literacy Project? <a href=“http://www.bibleliteracy.org/Site/index.htm[/url]”>http://www.bibleliteracy.org/Site/index.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>I was arguing with my brother about this not too long ago. I purchaed their book about the Bible’s influence in literature & culture, mainly because of my weak background. He insists this organization plans a backdoor approach to having the Bible introduced into schools first as a genre of literature, and later expanding that to proselytizing. The book is quite well done, and D has used it for English & US history assignments. (Try fully understanding the speeches of our Founding Fathers without having knowledge of the Bible!)</p>

<p>Your thoughts?</p>

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<p>My required freshman English course was called Bible, Myth, and Epic. It was a private school, but still. Knowing about Athena and knowing about Moses are both part of basic cultural literacy.</p>

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<p>When the case goes to court, the courts will not only take into account how the teachers teach, but what the intent of the statute was. It’ll get tossed pretty quickly.</p>

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<p>“Literature and History of the Old Testament Era, and Literature and History of the New Testament Era”</p>

<p>So, If I am to understand the point of this class… is to study lit from that time? or location? Would this also open it up to the Greeks, Romans, other eureopean groups and their books, or just the bible? </p>

<p>I am having trouble wrapping myself around this concept. Is a religous book or a literary book (like grapes of wrath)? I’m not understanding the point except to create an exclusive class about the bible? </p>

<p>Would there be other literature covered? The titles of the classes implies this or am I mistaken?</p>

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<p>In one of our surrounding counties, the school board voted to let a Bible class be an elective class for those who are interested.<br>
<a href=“http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070309/COUNTY10/703090393/1192[/url]”>http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070309/COUNTY10/703090393/1192&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;