Reply #52: The bill actually describes a SANE Bible Curriculum [View All]

[Bridget Burke]

Back in 2004, a bill in the Georgia Senate recommended adoption of the curriculum created by the National Council on Bible Curriculum in Public Schools:

www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2003_04/fulltext/hr1255.htm

The Texas Freedom Network had Dr Mark Chancey of SMU critique the NCBCPS text:

The NCBCPS curriculum goes beyond a study of the Bible as literature or a description of the importance of the Bible for beliefs and practices of religious groups. It, in fact, improperly endorses the Bible as the “Word of God.” It also attempts to persuade teachers and students to adopt views of the Bible that are common in some conservative Protestant circles but rejected by most scholars. While such views are certainly appropriate for individuals or religious groups, public schools should not present them as fact.

The curriculum almost exclusively reflects views held by certain conservative Protestant groups. The role of the Bible in Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Christian thought receives little attention.

The curriculum depicts the United States as a historically Christian nation. It even erroneously implies that historians generally believe that the Bible, even more than the Constitution, is the nation’s “Founding Document.”

Dr. Chancey’s report finds that shoddy research, factual errors, and problems with sourcing material also make the curriculum inappropriate for use in any classroom.

www.tfn.org/religiousfreedom/biblecurriculum/execsummary/

From the new bill:

a) The State Board of Education is authorized to approve a curriculum for an elective state funded course consisting of a nonsectarian, nonreligious academic study of the Bible and its influence on literature, art, music, culture, and politics. The curriculum and associated textbook shall meet academic rigor and standards of the State Board of Education in the same manner as required for approval of any other elective course and textbook approved by the state board and shall meet the requirements of the Constitutions of the United States and the State of Georgia. The course provided for in this Code section shall:

(1) Be taught in an objective and nondevotional manner with no attempt made to indoctrinate students as to either the truth or falsity of the biblical materials or texts from other religious or cultural traditions;

(2) Not include teaching of religious doctrine or sectarian interpretation of the Bible or of texts from other religious or cultural traditions; and

(3) Not disparage or encourage a commitment to a set of religious beliefs

www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2005_06/fulltext/sb437.htm

The NCBCPS curriculum does NOT meet these criteria. But the curriculum from The Bible Literacy Project comes close--although it is not mentioned in this bill.
www.bibleliteracy.org/Site/PressRoom/Press20050922/Press051130Endorsements.htm

Yet another battle in the fight between Bible Curricula. More info here: www.stcynic.com/blog/archives/2005/11/bible_curriculum_battle.php