The Bible in Public Schools

[Reptillian]

I just ran across this article in my local news.

Law Urges SD Schools To Expand Bible Instruction

PIERRE, SD -
South Dakota lawmakers earlier this year urged public schools to provide academic instruction on the Bible, but they may need the patience of Job as they wait for schools to embrace the idea.
The Legislature in January passed a non-binding resolution encouraging schools to teach - not preach - about the Bible so students gain an understanding of its influence on Western civilization's art, history and culture. Only a few lawmakers questioned whether the measure could blur the line between government and religion.
The members of the Yankton Ministerial Association voted to endorse the idea. But Yankton Superintendent Joseph Gertsema says the district has no plans to add an elective course on the Bible. Gertsema and superintendents in districts statewide say teachers already refer to the Bible when appropriate.

Now I admire the Bible as literature, but this is obviously a political ploy to sneakily insert religion into my state's public schools. I mean, I don't see our idiot legislators passing any special resolutions requiring students to learn Plato's Republic or Shakespeare or a whole host of influential cultural works. What really irks me is that not only do they frequently cut funding for education in SD, now they're trying to wedge the ol' B-I-B-L-E in. I'm writing a letter to the governor or something...does that seem reasonable? Am I overreacting?

 

[MysticSang'ha]

I just ran across this article in my local news.



Now I admire the Bible as literature, but this is obviously a political ploy to sneakily insert religion into my state's public schools. I mean, I don't see our idiot legislators passing any special resolutions requiring students to learn Plato's Republic or Shakespeare or a whole host of influential cultural works. What really irks me is that not only do they frequently cut funding for education in SD, now they're trying to wedge the ol' B-I-B-L-E in. I'm writing a letter to the governor or something...does that seem reasonable? Am I overreacting?

I think so. Educating the Bible in this manner, I think, is actually something I'd support enthusiastically.

It's not science, nor is it history. It's culturally relevent, and it allows critical thinking. Personally, I think it would encourage everyone to see the Bible as a book that has had profound influence and WHY it's had profound influence in a secular setting.

And I would like to see more study on Plato's Republic, Wollstonescraft's A Vindication of the Rights of Women, Machiavelli's The Prince, and the I Ching....and how each book influenced and impacted culture(s).

 

[Reptillian]

I think so. Educating the Bible in this manner, I think, is actually something I'd support enthusiastically.

It's not science, nor is it history. It's culturally relevent, and it allows critical thinking. Personally, I think it would encourage everyone to see the Bible as a book that has had profound influence and WHY it's had profound influence in a secular setting.

And I would like to see more study on Plato's Republic, Wollstonescraft's A Vindication of the Rights of Women, Machiavelli's The Prince, and the I Ching....and how each book influenced and impacted culture(s).

I do like the Bible and know it quite well, but I guess it doesn't sit well with me that they're singling it out and promoting it specifically over some of these other works. Shouldn't what subjects are taught be left to people in charge of schools and educators, not politicians? I mean, lawmakers don't decide the other educational standards.

 

[no-body]

If it's really not about promoting the bible then there should be a requirement to read something like "misquoting Jesus" too. Or another holy book like the Koran or Bhagavad Gita.

 

[Tarheeler]

I do like the Bible and know it quite well, but I guess it doesn't sit well with me that they're singling it out and promoting it specifically over some of these other works. Shouldn't what subjects are taught be left to people in charge of schools and educators, not politicians? I mean, lawmakers don't decide the other educational standards.

The lawmakers aren't making the decision here, either. It's a nonbinding resolution, and has absolutely no weight or influence in the real world.

It's nothing more than an attempt to gain favor with their Christian constitutes.

For what it's worth, there a class offered when I was in high school that looked at literature, including the Bible, and it's influence on society and history. Learned quite a bit in that one.

 

[MysticSang'ha]

I do like the Bible and know it quite well, but I guess it doesn't sit well with me that they're singling it out and promoting it specifically over some of these other works. Shouldn't what subjects are taught be left to people in charge of schools and educators, not politicians? I mean, lawmakers don't decide the other educational standards.

Public schools fall under the property of the public, which is governed by the differing boards of education (district, state, and federal), and falls under the General Assembly. So the state not only decides what can and can't fall under the required or elective curriculum, but also state and district budgets, what teachers and administrators are paid, school transportation services, collective bargaining with teachers unions, etc.

Which is why private, parochial, and homeschool educators are not held to the same standards as public educators. The public is not paying for these particular educational services.

 

[CynthiaCypher]

Sure teach the Bible in public schools. It's America primary cultural myth. But teach it with critical eyes. Show the kids all the contradiction and absurdities. Teach the kids how the Bible was really formed. Teach them about the interpolations and redactions.

I bet Christians wouldn't want it to be taught if schools were to teach those truths about the Bible.

 

[BobbyisStrange]

I guess I wouldn’t be opposed to it if it were in say, a world religions class or something along those lines...as long as it is not passed off as science.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Sure teach the Bible in public schools. It's America primary cultural myth.

I always thought that America's primary cultural myth was cynicism and parochialism.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

I think so. Educating the Bible in this manner, I think, is actually something I'd support enthusiastically.

The [Christian] devil is in the details. I am a strong supporter of enhancing religious literacy, but I seriously doubt that we as a society have the interest or maturity to present it properly in the public schools.

 

[England my lionheart]

I just ran across this article in my local news.



Now I admire the Bible as literature, but this is obviously a political ploy to sneakily insert religion into my state's public schools. I mean, I don't see our idiot legislators passing any special resolutions requiring students to learn Plato's Republic or Shakespeare or a whole host of influential cultural works. What really irks me is that not only do they frequently cut funding for education in SD, now they're trying to wedge the ol' B-I-B-L-E in. I'm writing a letter to the governor or something...does that seem reasonable? Am I overreacting?

In the UK religious education is quite good,at first i thought it was just another preaching platform and if my Kids were only being taught about the Bible i would have taken issue with it but they were taught about all religions and as long as thats the case for you i think its ok,all my Kids came through it ok.

 

[Dirty Penguin]

I just ran across this article in my local news.



Now I admire the Bible as literature, but this is obviously a political ploy to sneakily insert religion into my state's public schools. I mean, I don't see our idiot legislators passing any special resolutions requiring students to learn Plato's Republic or Shakespeare or a whole host of influential cultural works. What really irks me is that not only do they frequently cut funding for education in SD, now they're trying to wedge the ol' B-I-B-L-E in. I'm writing a letter to the governor or something...does that seem reasonable? Am I overreacting?

I work for a public school and I'd be upset if they tried this in my district. Most kids barely know the classics. We don't need these kinds of tactics. Are Christians that desperate?

 

[LegionOnomaMoi]

The [Christian] devil is in the details. I am a strong supporter of enhancing religious literacy, but I seriously doubt that we as a society have the interest or maturity to present it properly in the public schools.

That's what puts me on the fence. On the one hand, I find it discouraging that so many students have no idea where so much of their cultural background, worldview, etc., comes from (i.e., Judeo-Christian theology, philosophy, tradition, etc.). And the bible has not only shaped the English language (through the KJV) but Western thought in so many ways it is hard to underestimate its significance. On the other hand, similar things can be said for calculus, newtonian physics, and greek philosophy, yet rarely can students (even high school students) appreciate the most of how fundamental these are or have been in shaping Western thought.

At the moment, one of the high school students I tutor attends a catholic high school. One of the textbooks she had specifically covered the bible (albeit from a primarily catholic point of view). It was a pretty good textbook, yet her focus was not on "learning" the material per se but doing the assignments and being familiar enough with the material to pass quizes and exams. For a public school course, the material would be even more challenging (as it wouldn't focus on a particular interpretation of the compilation, meaning, etc., of the various books of the bible, but on a "standard" academic analysis of these and on its influence over the centuries) and students even less likely to gain much from such studies.

I'm sort of on the fence about this one, so I'll have to give it some thought. Interesting question though.

 

[Skwim]

There are far more useful and important subjects to spend valuable class time on.

 

[CynthiaCypher]

There are far more useful and important subjects to spend valuable class time on.

I think teaching kid Biblical criticism would be useful. It could give them all sorts of tools.

 

[Reptillian]

In the UK religious education is quite good,at first i thought it was just another preaching platform and if my Kids were only being taught about the Bible i would have taken issue with it but they were taught about all religions and as long as thats the case for you i think its ok,all my Kids came through it ok.

The thing is that they won't be taught about all religions. If a similar resolution were passed regarding the Quran or the Bhagavad Gita, people in my state would be up in arms about it.

I agree that it wouldn't hurt to have people know the Bible better. As an example, a few weeks ago I was out drinking with a group of friends celebrating my best friend's graduation from college. At one point I was asked where my friend had gone off to and I replied, "How should I know? Am I my brother's keeper?" I was met with confused stares and one girl asked me, "He's your brother?" I was like, "No, it's a biblical quote." So I can see that people aren't as familiar with the Bible as they could be. The question is, should they be?

I work for a public school and I'd be upset if they tried this in my district. Most kids barely know the classics. We don't need these kinds of tactics. Are Christians that desperate?

I know! These days education seems very utilitarian. It's all about, "how can I use this knowledge to make money?" instead of "how can I use this knowledge to be a better citizen?" I think it's just an obvious case of pandering to the large Christian demographic in SD.

There are far more useful and important subjects to spend valuable class time on.

Imagine you have only so much time to teach almost every citizen of the United States something, The Bible isn't the first thing to pop into my mind either.

I think teaching kid Biblical criticism would be useful. It could give them all sorts of tools.

They won't be taught criticism though...the local communties would be in an uproar about that. There is no critical thinking they could learn from the Bible that they couldn't learn from other equally complex literary works. To be honest, I think the real value mathematics and science courses, as far as your average schmoe is concerned, is to teach reasoning and critical thinking.

 

[Alceste]

I'm for doing a better job of teaching philosophy and religion in general, but I think the Bible should be the last book on the list of influential works that should be covered. It's already ubiquitous - anybody can access Bible study for free on an any given Sunday. Covering it in school too would be overkill.

 

[waitasec]

i think all other religious texts should be introduced, not just the bible as that would suggest the bible is the only religion to consider.

 

[LegionOnomaMoi]

I'm for doing a better job of teaching philosophy and religion in general, but I think the Bible should be the last book on the list of influential works that should be covered. It's already ubiquitous - anybody can access Bible study for free on an any given Sunday. Covering it in school too would be overkill.

Anybody can access any classic work (and most non-class works as well). The problem is they don't. If children/young adults are exposed to the bible, it's typically via some religious school, program, or something similar, and therefore the focus is on religious interpretation and meaning rather than history and cultural significance. If the bible were studied in public schools, the point would be (or should be) not on exegesis of passages or books but on history and the influence of the text on Western thought.

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

I think teaching kid Biblical criticism would be useful. It could give them all sorts of tools.

The problem is that Biblical criticism is not the same as Biblical cynicism and not at all the same as Bible-bashing. It's a fairly difficult discipline and at best only appropriate as an elective for the more serious student. Comparative religion, on the other hand, is a far less inetnse and far more valuable topic in my opinion.