Brand New Bill Would Allow Schools to Finally Bring the Bible Back to the Classroom
The West Virginia state Senate is considering a bill that would require all schools to provide an elective course on the Bible.
The proposed legislation would require public and private schools to offer a course that would cover either Hebrew scriptures, the Old Testament or the New Testament, WHSV-TV reported.
Republican state Sens. Mike Azinger and Sue Cline introduced Senate Bill 252, which would allow students to choose which courses they would like to take.
The bill would require “federal and state laws to be followed regarding religious neutrality, while accommodating the diverse religious views of students.”
The purpose of the courses would be to teach students the history of the Bible, including its literary style and its influence on society, WSAZ reported.
The legislation stated that the courses “may not endorse, favor, or promote, or disfavor or show hostility toward, any particular religion or nonreligious faith or religious perspective,” according to federal law.
SB 252 has been sent to the Senate Education Committee, and if it becomes law, the Bible electives would be made available at all grade levels.
Reaction to the proposition has been mixed, and the ACLU claimed such classes may violate the Constitution.
Of course it did.
Eli Baumwell, policy director for the ACLU of West Virginia, told WDTV that the classes were a bad idea.
“We know from experience that when these courses are offered even as an elective, there can be a lot of social pressure and even pressure from teachers and school administrators,” he said.
Pressure to do what?
The only pressure most teachers and school administrators have applied in recent years is to suppress any mention of Christianity at schools while supporting such nonsensical ideas as transgender boys using girls restrooms and a gay Santa Claus.
Dr. Mark A. Staples, pastor at Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Fairmont, had a more open view of the classes.
“It could be so helpful for students, not so much for promoting a particular type of religion but I think there’s a lot of historical as well as biblical pieces that can be very important for students to understand,” he said.
It certainly couldn’t hurt anything.
While this legislation has yet to pass, it would be a big step for religious freedom if it did.
H/T The Hill
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