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Kentucky Senate passes bill to teach Bible in public schools
By Jeff MillsFebruary 12th, 2011, 11:55 amComments (19)
A bill has been passed by the Kentucky Senate that would allow Bible classes to be taught in public schools. The measure passed in a 34-1 landslide vote, with final passage into law pending House review.
Senate Bill 56, which would direct the State Department of Education to develop a course curriculum around the Bible, is sponsored by Republican state Senator Joe Bowen, who said:
"No doubt about it, the most important book ever written and obviously, it's had so much influence on our society and all of Western civilization."
Bowen also believes the bill is about "education, not indoctrination," providing for a "social studies course."
Democratic state Senator Tim Shaughnessy said a provision allowing students to substitute their own text for the course throws academic credibility "out the window." State Representative Reggie Meeks thinks the bill is pandering to Kentucky's Christian voters. "It's like waving meat in front of a dog, okay? You give them what they want," he said.
Once again, students who practice other religions are disregarded when it comes to having a bill that would give them an opportunity to take classes that focus on their beliefs. Although the bill will face an uphill climb in the House, Bowen does have an ace up his sleeve. He is friends with House majority whip Tommy Thompson, who is from his hometown of Owensboro. If the bill does become law, I can envision a morning Bible class, followed by an afternoon field trip to the local Creationist amusement park.
Commentarium (19 Comments)
Surely they're aware the measure, if it ultimately passes, will be struck down by the courts more or less immediately? But maybe it's more about groundstanding than actually seeing results, in any case...
I'm not sure if it's the same in the States, but in Canada, for the most part our Catholic schools are no different than public schools, except for the fact that we have to take religion as a course. Note, it does not mean, we have to go to church, pray before every class, etc etc. We just have to take the course. In grade 11, there is a mandatory world religions course - a course that opens up a lot of students eyes. In my personal opinion, world religions (Not just Catholicism, but every religion) should be a mandatory course for every student regardless of what school board you belong to. Religion and faith can be two completely different things, and it's not impossible to have faith in a higher being, without belonging to an organized religion. Therefore, I find it extremely important that everyone be educated not only of the popular religions of their country, but of other religions around the world too. How can you truly believe in and support something (Take for example, the Catholic Church) without knowing more about it, and knowing about other options? On the same note, how can you truly say you are against religion, or faith, or whatever you're not down for, if you don't know anything about it? Religious ignorance works on both sides - it's ignorant to both believe AND not believe without properly informing yourself.
Yes Samantha, but Canada - and Ontario specifically - has been criticized by the UN for publicly funding one and only one form of religious schooling (see http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/archive/ldn/2005/nov/05111803)
I'm a certified teacher, so I know the despicable Catholic influence on education, particularly with regards to science and sex education. I'm also not very fond of the blatant brainwashing that I've seen in catholic elementary classes. If people want their children to grow up ignorant, perhaps it should be none of my concern, but the big problem with Ontario Catholic education is that it is the only form of religious education that is publicly funded.
I wouldn't be against a world religion course at all - my feeling is that it would point out all the contradictions and the silliness inherent to all religions. But to say that one should know a lot about things we don't believe in is rather ridiculous - do I need to know a lot about WWE wrestling to realize it's fake? Do I need to be educated on the origins of the popular image of Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, or fairies to realize that they are fictional characters? I'd be all for a world religion class, as well as a logic/reasoning/ethics class. But a Bible study class? No siree bob.
I'm from Ontario, and sick to freakin' death of my taxes going to fund teaching about Catholicism (not to mention having to fund the inefficiencies of two school systems).
It's Kentucky. What the hell do you expect, lacrosse and poutine?
If taught well, I think this could be a very good class. I wasn't raised religious, in any way, and I've always felt a little lost in English class, when we talk about various allusions to the Bible. There's no denying that the Bible has a lot of influence on Western culture, and reading and understanding it is instrumental to a well-rounded education. (I realize I don't have much credibility, considering I haven't read it, but it's on my to-do list). Actually now that I think about it, schools should have a general religion course, that covers the world's main religions. Religion is such a driving force behind what so many people do, but we're so damn scared of religion that we just leave ourselves ignorant.
That said, I'm sure there will be schools and teachers that take advantage of this kind of class, and try to push their beliefs on students. But there will always be some corrupt teachers- we just have to trust students to take everything they learn with a grain of salt!
Absolutely guaranteed to not be taught well - in Kentucky or anyplace else. Give true believers an inch and they will take a mile, every goddamned time.
Great. Just great. It's stories like these and comments like TwoLane's that keep us in our place, here in Kentucky. While I acknowledge that some stereotypes do exist for a reason, it's much easier to focus on the radical religious right's prevalence in our state than on the struggles of the people who are fighting for progress and change every day. There ARE educated people here, and there ARE people who try to prevent bills such as this one being passed.
As a side note, I am a teacher in a 2010 Blue Ribbon public school here in Kentucky, and this is the first time I've heard of this bill. I'm pretty sure readers would be shocked to enter our school and observe the diversity and high levels of achievement that exist. I guess I'm not trying to make a point about anything, just asking for people to open their minds before generalizing all Kentuckians into one huge category of Bible thumping, racist, redneck homophobes.
Kentucky is also one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen, no joke.
Who is St. John of Galt?
Why are Catholic schools publicly funded in Canada?
Also, these Bible classes in Kentucky...I assume they'd be electives and not required. I have no problem with them if that's the case. The problem with trying to be inclusively with education in a way most people want it to be is there aren't appropriate teachers to take on the subjects properly. Because a huge whack of the US is Christian, there are way more teachers comfortable teaching the bible than there are for other religions and their scriptures. Ideally, if one school did happen to have teachers who could take on other religious-studies classes (and not just PC ones that teach out of a textbook) they should be able to build classes too. But just like language classes, if you don't have anybody around who can teach Mandarin, you don't offer the course. My highschool happened to have a Japanese-speaking white guy who taught classes on it.
After the English defeated the French, some French that stayed (duh). When the country was formed, the English were protestant and the French were Catholic, and the Catholic French wanted their religion protected, so a right to Catholic education is in our Constitution. The Protestant English schools eventually became the secular public school system, but the Catholic schools have remained in Ontario. Newfoundland and Quebec aren't stupid and have changed this, but Ontario lags behind because the Premier (think Governor) of the last 7 years grew up in the Catholic system. Not to mention that his wife teaches in Catholic schools.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Canada#Religious_schools
My problem with teaching the Bible as a class is that the Bible has no more value than Grimm's Fairy Tales.
In Newfoundland there were only protestant or catholic school, one or the other.
It was only in 1997 that there was a constitutional amendment to allow the province of Newfoundland and Labrador to create a non-secular school system.
Crazy.
Hey! Don't insult classics like Grimm's Fairy Tales.
Sure they should teach it - in literature classes. If they're serious about educating children on the origins of western literature, I presume they will soon be passing a bill requiring the latin and greek classics to be taught as well?
the fuck?
Apparently the comments here are not moderated. Or else the one by Julian above would have not been allowed to stand .
Please take note, the Kentucky bill doesn't "mandate" students believe the Bible.
That would be voluntary.
The people who won't like it are "stealth jihadists", atheists, leftists, and others that want to brainwash your children with their own indoctrination.
Study of the Bible would be a good counter.
As far as the UN is concerned, that institution has been highjacked by Islamists and lost credibility a long time ago.
@John - what a load of utter rubbish you spout. But I'm sure that as you're supportive of a class in the bible, you'd be equally as supportive of a class in every other religious text as well. Because if not, that would make YOU the one wanting to brainwash everyone's children with YOUR own indoctrination.
I agree with Randlan in that the Bible offers no more than Grimm's Fairy Tales... If you want to teach children morals at a young age this can be done without the bible. In fact, it would be much easier to understand a teaching of morals from a sort of Fairy Tale perspective...
The way I see it, you will be creating a group, specifically a group of believers. When this "in-group" is formed, inevitably you get the "out-group." The children that are apart of this "out-group" will face the challenge of being a minority. There have been many social studies done that show the negative effects of feeling that you are not only in the minority, but that you are apart of a team, a team that separates you from your own peers. This has been shown to initiate violence and a sort of group mentality that separates children and ultimately is harmful to their morals...
But of course what do i know, i'm just an atheist looking to indoctrinate your children ;)