Texas BOE approves Bible course for high schools
The Texas State Board of Education (TBOE) has voted 10-5 to allow high schools to offer elective Bible courses, reports the Dallas Morning News. However, TBOE is leaving it to local school districts to design the courses so that they do not run afoul of constitutionally protected religious rights. The board adopted general guidelines for the courses, disregarding the advice of several members of the House Public Education Committee who urged approval of more specific requirements to head off the possibility of constitutional violations and lawsuits. Rep. Scott Hochberg, who co-authored the law, warned TBOE that, without specific guidance from the state, some schools would run afoul of the First Amendment requirement of religious neutrality for such classes. “My interest is keeping the focus on teaching kids and spending less money on lawsuits” he said. Nonetheless, a majority of board members said they preferred to adopt a general rule and not dictate how the classes will be taught. “It's better for us to go ahead and do something now,” said TBOE member Cynthia Dunbar. “We have met the requirements of the legislation. We don't want to stifle what they [school districts] are doing in classrooms.” Attorney General Greg Abbott has told the board that although the state standards for the Bible class appear to be in compliance with the First Amendment, his office can not guarantee that the courses taught in high schools will be constitutional because they have not been reviewed. Critics contend that the standards, based on old guidelines for independent studies in English and social studies, are so vague and general that many schools might unknowingly create unconstitutional Bible classes that either promote the religious views of teachers or disparage the religious beliefs of some students. Earlier this year, the Ector County school board agreed to eliminate a Bible course curriculum at two of its high schools after the American Civil Liberties Union charged the course promoted Protestant religious beliefs not shared by Jews, Catholics, Orthodox Christians, and many Protestants. Nevertheless, TBOE members supporting the new Bible course rule contend such lawsuits are rare and should not be a problem for most school districts. “A school district has the right to choose their own Bible curriculum because they know their students best,” said board member Barbara Cargill. She and other supporters also pointed out that the course will be voluntary.
Source: Dallas Morning News, 7/19/08, By Terrence Stutz