Though no formal action was taken at Thursday night’s meeting, the McCreary County Board of Education is considering a Bible class for high school students.Board members heard a presentation from Roger Dillon, Kentucky State Director for Christian Educators Association International, who discussed the development of an elective course high school students could take to learn more about the Bible.
Dillon explained that the 1963 Supreme Court decision (Abington Township School District v. Schempp) which prohibits public school officials from leading prayers and/or devotional Bible reading does not prohibit such a class.
“The Bible can be taught from a historical or literary perspective so long as it is not taught devotionally,” Dillon said.
Such electives are even encouraged in legal guidelines issued by the Clinton administration in 1998.While the National Council on Bible Curriculum in Public Schools and the Bible Literacy Project each have courses which have been taught around the country, Dillon also noted that a bill is currently under consideration for Kentucky to develop its own curriculum as Tennessee recently opted to do.
Senate Bill 142 passed the Senate on February 25 by a vote of 37-1 but has languished in the House’s Education Committee since March 2...
Hat Tip to KSBA.
