Skwim
Veteran Member
"A new report put out by the Texas Freedom Network Education Fund reveals that in several public school classes on the impact of the Bible on history have found classes teaching from a right-wing, fundamentalist Christian standpoint.
A Southern Methodist University religious studies professor Mark Chancey found instances of students learning a literal interpretation of the Bible, that the earth is approximately 6,000 years old and that Judaism is a flawed and incomplete religion with materials designed to evangelize rather than provide an objective study of the Bibles influence.
TFN also found a lesson explaining racial origins traced from Noah.
In a few districts, Bible courses echo claims made within the Religious Right that the Founding Fathers were largely orthodox Protestant Christians who intended for the United States to be a distinctively Christian nation with laws and a form of government based on the Bible. This logic is implied, for example, in a Dalhart ISD daily lesson plan: The student understands the beliefs, and principles taken from the Biblical texts and applied to elements of the American system of government. These claims are problematic not only because they are historically inaccurate but also because they figure prominently in attempts by the Religious Right to guarantee a privileged position in the public square for their own religious beliefs above those of others.
Instructional material in two school districts teach that racial diversity today can be traced back to Noahs sons, a long-discredited claim that has been a foundational component of some forms of racism.
Religious bias is common, with most courses taught from a Protestant often a conservative Protestant perspective. One course, for example, assumes Christians will at some point be raptured. Materials include a Venn diagram showing the pros and cons of theories that posit the rapture before the returning Jesus 1,000-year reign and those that place it afterward. In many courses, the perspectives of Roman Catholics, Orthodox Christians and Jews are often left out.
Anti-Jewish bias intentional or not is not uncommon. Some courses even portray Judaism as a flawed and incomplete religion that has been replaced by Christianity.
Many courses suggest or openly claim that the Bible is literally true. The Bible is the written word of God, students are told in one PowerPoint presentation. Some courses go so far as to suggest that the Bible can be used to verify events in history. One district, for example, teaches students that the Bibles historical claims are largely beyond question by listing biblical events side by side with historical developments from around the globe.
Course materials in numerous classes are designed to evangelize rather than provide an objective study of the Bibles influence. A book in one district makes its purpose clear in the preface: May this study be of value to you. May you fully come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God. And may you have life in His name.
A number of courses teach students that the Bible proves Earth is just 6,000 years old.
Students are taught that the United States is a Christian nation founded on the Christian biblical principles taught in their classrooms.
Academic rigor is so poor that many courses rely mostly on memorization of Bible verses and factoids from Bible stories rather than teaching students how to analyze what they are studying. One district relies heavily on Bible cartoons from Hanna-Barbera for its high school class. Students in another district spend two days watching what lesson plans describe a the historic documentary Ancient Aliens, which presents a new interpretation of angelic beings described as extraterrestrials.
And the frightening thing is that because Texas is the largest consumer of text books many publishers defer to their needs when constructing their products.Religious bias is common, with most courses taught from a Protestant often a conservative Protestant perspective. One course, for example, assumes Christians will at some point be raptured. Materials include a Venn diagram showing the pros and cons of theories that posit the rapture before the returning Jesus 1,000-year reign and those that place it afterward. In many courses, the perspectives of Roman Catholics, Orthodox Christians and Jews are often left out.
Anti-Jewish bias intentional or not is not uncommon. Some courses even portray Judaism as a flawed and incomplete religion that has been replaced by Christianity.
Many courses suggest or openly claim that the Bible is literally true. The Bible is the written word of God, students are told in one PowerPoint presentation. Some courses go so far as to suggest that the Bible can be used to verify events in history. One district, for example, teaches students that the Bibles historical claims are largely beyond question by listing biblical events side by side with historical developments from around the globe.
Course materials in numerous classes are designed to evangelize rather than provide an objective study of the Bibles influence. A book in one district makes its purpose clear in the preface: May this study be of value to you. May you fully come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God. And may you have life in His name.
A number of courses teach students that the Bible proves Earth is just 6,000 years old.
Students are taught that the United States is a Christian nation founded on the Christian biblical principles taught in their classrooms.
Academic rigor is so poor that many courses rely mostly on memorization of Bible verses and factoids from Bible stories rather than teaching students how to analyze what they are studying. One district relies heavily on Bible cartoons from Hanna-Barbera for its high school class. Students in another district spend two days watching what lesson plans describe a the historic documentary Ancient Aliens, which presents a new interpretation of angelic beings described as extraterrestrials.
Smart goddesses bring the teacher nice shiny apples. :flirt:
