Texas Public Schools now *required* to teach the bible

[guyver01]

Texas public schools now required to teach the Bible

As of the 2009-2010 school year public schools in Texas are now required to offer a high school elective course on the literature of the Bible and history of that era. House Bill No. 1287 explains that the course ?must be taught in an objective and non-devotional manner that does not attempt to indoctrinate students as to either the truth or falsity of the Judeo-Christian biblical materials?. It goes on to say that schools can add courses on other religious texts if they would like, but only the one on the Bible is required.




Looks like the 1st amendment is now dead.
Any bets on which amendment is next?

 

[sciwizam]

Originally posted by: guyver01
Texas public schools now required to teach the Bible

As of the 2009-2010 school year public schools in Texas are now required to offer a high school elective course on the literature of the Bible and history of that era. House Bill No. 1287 explains that the course ?must be taught in an objective and non-devotional manner that does not attempt to indoctrinate students as to either the truth or falsity of the Judeo-Christian biblical materials?. It goes on to say that schools can add courses on other religious texts if they would like, but only the one on the Bible is required.




Looks like the 4th amendment is now dead.
Any bets on which amendment is next?

Key word.

But as far my opinion, when they can't even teach facts in a biology class or for any class in a competent manner, I would like to see how they can manage to teach the bible course in a " objective and non-devotional manner that does not attempt to indoctrinate students as to either the truth or falsity of the Judeo-Christian biblical materials".

EDIT: Did you get your amendment wrong? I'm not finding anything religious related in the 4th Amendment.

 

[guyver01]

Originally posted by: sciwizam
Key word.

doesn't matter if it's elective.

SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE


PUBLIC Schools should not be teaching or OFFERING classes that have anything to do with Religion.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: guyver01
Texas public schools now required to teach the Bible

As of the 2009-2010 school year public schools in Texas are now required to offer a high school elective course on the literature of the Bible and history of that era. House Bill No. 1287 explains that the course ?must be taught in an objective and non-devotional manner that does not attempt to indoctrinate students as to either the truth or falsity of the Judeo-Christian biblical materials?. It goes on to say that schools can add courses on other religious texts if they would like, but only the one on the Bible is required.




Looks like the 4th amendment is now dead.
Any bets on which amendment is next?

What are you harping about the 4th amendment for????

You also conveniently left out these other facts from the article --
this is an elective course so students do not have to take it, but students could be forced to do so by their parents -- aww too bad their parents actually care about what courses they are taking...hahahaa

 

[guyver01]

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda
What are you harping about the 4th amendment for????

my mistake... FIRST amendment

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: guyver01

Originally posted by: sciwizam
Key word.

doesn't matter if it's elective.

SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE


PUBLIC Schools should not be teaching or OFFERING classes that have anything to do with Religion.

whats funny is you have no clue what the seperation of church and state entails....

The separation of church and state is a legal and political principle derived from the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, which reads, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof . . ."

At the high school I graduated from they had a college prep class in Literature and the instructor used only the Bible and treated it solely as literature.....

 

[guyver01]

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda
whats funny is you have no clue what the seperation of church and state entails....

The separation of church and state is a legal and political principle derived from the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, which reads, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof . . ."

At the high school I graduated from they had a college prep class in Literature and the instructor used only the Bible and treated it solely as literature.....

So why use government funding to create a class whose sole purpose is to teach the bible?

The house bill states that schools can add courses on other religious texts if they would like, but only the one on the Bible is required.

Why is a class on the TORAH not required?
Why is a class on the QURAN not required?

Why is a class on the BIBLE required?

As you state, the first amendment states ""Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion"

you could say that as a corrolary, this law, which is REQUIRING a class on the bible, is focusing on ONE religion.

I question the constutionality of this state law.

 

[sciwizam]

Originally posted by: guyver01

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda
whats funny is you have no clue what the seperation of church and state entails....

The separation of church and state is a legal and political principle derived from the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, which reads, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof . . ."

At the high school I graduated from they had a college prep class in Literature and the instructor used only the Bible and treated it solely as literature.....

So why use government funding to create a class whose sole purpose is to teach the bible?

Not the same

 

[guyver01]

Originally posted by: sciwizam
Not the same

if it were religious literature, and using the bible, torah, quran, book of mormon, etc as part of the syllabus, i could agree... and would have no problem with it.

you could call it Religious literature.


but the bible and only the bible?

its only Christian studies.

Bible studies as elective classes can wait until college, where the tax payer does not have to pay for this, and the student will pay to take the class they want.

 

[irishScott]

It's not the fact that schools are offering this class, it's the fact that they're required by law to offer this class that's against the Constitution. It's a direct violation of secularization.

 

[JD50]

Originally posted by: guyver01

Originally posted by: sciwizam
Key word.

doesn't matter if it's elective.

SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE


PUBLIC Schools should not be teaching or OFFERING classes that have anything to do with Religion.

That absolutely ridiculous. There's nothing wrong with teaching about religion.

 

[Fenixgoon]

Originally posted by: guyver01

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda
whats funny is you have no clue what the seperation of church and state entails....

The separation of church and state is a legal and political principle derived from the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, which reads, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof . . ."

At the high school I graduated from they had a college prep class in Literature and the instructor used only the Bible and treated it solely as literature.....

So why use government funding to create a class whose sole purpose is to teach the bible?

The house bill states that schools can add courses on other religious texts if they would like, but only the one on the Bible is required.

Why is a class on the TORAH not required?
Why is a class on the QURAN not required?

Why is a class on the BIBLE required?

As you state, the first amendment states ""Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion"

you could say that as a corrolary, this law, which is REQUIRING a class on the bible, is focusing on ONE religion.

I question the constutionality of this state law.

the torah is part of the bible :laugh:

also, since the course is elective, separation still exists. though i'd say it'd be better to make the course a survey class (ie, survey of world religions) or to have multiple electives setup to teach about different religions

 

[guyver01]

Originally posted by: JD50
That absolutely ridiculous. There's nothing wrong with teaching about religion.

Are you saying that because it's the bible?

How would you feel if they passed a law saying schools had to offer an elective class on the Q'uran?

 

[guyver01]

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
since the course is elective, separation still exists. though i'd say it'd be better to make the course a survey class (ie, survey of world religions) or to have multiple electives setup to teach about different religions

Separation does not exist, because they are using STATE and possibly Federal funding to create the course. .. it may be elective but the law is REQUIRING them to create it.

Remove the "you are required to create a course on the bible" part...

and make it "you can create a course on world religions" and i'd have NO issue with it.

Originally posted by: Fenixgoon
the torah is part of the bible

i'm not talking about the Pentateuch... i'm talking about the full blown scroll.. the entirety of Judaism's founding legal and ethical religious texts.

 

[JD50]

Originally posted by: guyver01

Originally posted by: JD50
That absolutely ridiculous. There's nothing wrong with teaching about religion.

Are you saying that because it's the bible?

How would you feel if they passed a law saying schools had to offer an elective class on the Q'uran?

I was referring to this "PUBLIC Schools should not be teaching or OFFERING classes that have anything to do with Religion. "

PUBLIC schools SHOULD be teaching classes on religion. Not pushing a certain religion, obviously, but they should teach about religion.

 

[guyver01]

Originally posted by: JD50
PUBLIC schools SHOULD be teaching classes on religion. Not pushing a certain religion, obviously, but they should teach about religion.

i agree, partially..

the should offer elective classes, if students want... on ALL religions, as a generic overview..

however the Texas law states they MUST OFFER a class on the bible. ONLY the bible. nothing else.

that.. IMO .. is bullshit.

 

[JD50]

Originally posted by: guyver01

Originally posted by: JD50
PUBLIC schools SHOULD be teaching classes on religion. Not pushing a certain religion, obviously, but they should teach about religion.

i agree, partially..

the should offer elective classes, if students want... on ALL religions, as a generic overview..

however the Texas law states they MUST OFFER a class on the bible. ONLY the bible. nothing else.

that.. IMO .. is bullshit.

I disagree with the law, but I see nothing wrong with focusing more on Christianity than other religions. Our country is comprised of mostly Christians, there's nothing wrong with focusing on that.

 

[Vette73]

Most people are right in this tread to a degree.

The pro is it is an elective class. As such they could argue that is it not required.

The bad thing that will get it shut down is the state is forcing all schools to carry it, even if there is not demand, and it is only going over 1 religion.

If they really wanted this they could do 2 things like my HS did. It should be added, or removed, on a local level when there is sufficient demand. The other part is it should not be only a single religion. The religion class at my school had all major beliefs and was an elective. Of course after all the ?demand? for the class maybe 10 people signed up for it and it was canceled the next year.

So no this will not stand up in court. Maybe a local court but when it hits the appeal and above it will be struck down.

 

[lsd]

Tax payer money should NOT be used to teach religious crap. You want to learn about the bible then go to Sunday school. I sincerely hope Texas tax payer money is used to fund that crap and not federal money. Fucking Leaches.

 

[Darwin333]

Originally posted by: guyver01

Originally posted by: sciwizam
Key word.

doesn't matter if it's elective.

SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE


PUBLIC Schools should not be teaching or OFFERING classes that have anything to do with Religion.

The Bible, as well as all other texts of major religions, are very much a part of our history and had huge influence on the development of our society. IMO you can't even begin to teach about the history and development of modern human beings without teaching about these texts.

Unfortunately, it doesn't sound like thats how it is being taught. Personally, I would be happy to give all the religious folk their own classes in every public school in the country if it would keep them from messing with our science books/classes. Ooooh, and we get to put a sticker on the inside cover of the bibles used in school that says "This textbook contains material on religion. Religion is a theory, not a fact, regarding the origin of living things. This material should be approached with an open mind, studied carefully, and critically considered. "

Now THAT would be funny.

 

[sao123]

Originally posted by: guyver01

Originally posted by: sciwizam
Key word.

doesn't matter if it's elective.

SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE


PUBLIC Schools should not be teaching or OFFERING classes that have anything to do with Religion.

not sure why you got your panys all in a bunch... the bible is a religious text...fine.

BUT it is also a historical document. It is possible to learn its merit without religious implications.

?must be taught in an objective and non-devotional manner that does not attempt to indoctrinate students as to either the truth or falsity of the Judeo-Christian biblical materials?.

Souds like this is exactly what they arre doing...I think this is a great idea.

 

[PokerGuy]

Originally posted by: Darwin333

Originally posted by: guyver01

Originally posted by: sciwizam
Key word.

doesn't matter if it's elective.

SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE


PUBLIC Schools should not be teaching or OFFERING classes that have anything to do with Religion.

The Bible, as well as all other texts of major religions, are very much a part of our history and had huge influence on the development of our society. IMO you can't even begin to teach about the history and development of modern human beings without teaching about these texts.

Unfortunately, it doesn't sound like thats how it is being taught. Personally, I would be happy to give all the religious folk their own classes in every public school in the country if it would keep them from messing with our science books/classes. Ooooh, and we get to put a sticker on the inside cover of the bibles used in school that says "This textbook contains material on religion. Religion is a theory, not a fact, regarding the origin of living things. This material should be approached with an open mind, studied carefully, and critically considered. "

Now THAT would be funny.

This.

 

[Fingolfin269]

I'm not religious at all but crying about this is stupid. Stop crying.

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

So schools are required to devote resources and money into forming a class to teach about the bible [not religiously though(right...)]? If they want, they can devote even more resources they're probably already spread thin on to create even more classes for other religions?... Yea, that's about as separated as shit and stink. Certainly, it's an impossibility that most of these actually classes will end up being religious bent

Personally, I think they should require classes on the Quaran(not religiously though). It's an equally important historical document. Most children already get some exposure to the bible through their parents why bother devoting resources to teaching it when there's other equally important books that they don't have exposure to? Also, that way maybe in a generation or two we won't have a bunch of asshats in the government trying to legislate religion into schools, or atleast enough from different sides to ensure attempts to are always deadlocked.

 

[soccerballtux]

Originally posted by: guyver01
Texas public schools now required to teach the Bible

As of the 2009-2010 school year public schools in Texas are now required to offer a high school elective course on the literature of the Bible and history of that era. House Bill No. 1287 explains that the course ?must be taught in an objective and non-devotional manner that does not attempt to indoctrinate students as to either the truth or falsity of the Judeo-Christian biblical materials?. It goes on to say that schools can add courses on other religious texts if they would like, but only the one on the Bible is required.




Looks like the 1st amendment is now dead.
Any bets on which amendment is next?

People are dying from starvation and AIDs in Africa and you're worried about this?