South Dakota Legislature Passes Bill Urging Academic Study of the Bible
Becomes 6th Legislature to Encourage Public School Bible Courses
FRONT ROYAL, Va.,
Feb. 15, 2012
/Standard
Newswire/ -- In late January, the South Dakota legislature approved
resolution HRC 1004, which supports the academic study of the Bible in
public schools. State Rep. Steve Hickey, the resolution's chief sponsor,
said he hoped the courses would make students aware of the Bible's
immense cultural influence. "I have a concern that we're raising a
generation of kids who can't quote anything beyond Sponge Bob," Hickey
said.
Five other states -- Texas, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, and
Oklahoma -- have also passed laws promoting public school academic study
of the Bible. While teaching about the Bible is legal nationwide, these
states have used legislation to raise public awareness and to promote
statewide implementation of these courses.
Some public school students in South Dakota are already taking a Bible
course using 'The Bible and Its Influence,' the only student textbook
about the Bible designed for public schools. Recently released in its
second edition by the Bible Literacy Project, this text is used by 540
high schools nationwide.
In eight states, more than 5 percent of public schools are using this
textbook: Georgia (12.6%), Alabama (10.3%), Indiana (9.1%), Texas
(8.4%), Tennessee (7.9%), South Carolina (7.0%), North Carolina (5.8%)
and Kentucky (5.0%) In addition, 'The Bible and Its Influence' has
achieved acceptance in larger districts. It is now taught in 30
districts that enroll more than 20,000 students. "Larger school
districts often require a district-wide curriculum review, with public
review and comment on the curriculum and multiple layers of approval,"
said Chuck Stetson, Bible Literacy Project's CEO. "Our track record of
successful implementation and strong community support has given larger
districts confidence that our materials meet the educational needs of
their diverse student populations."
Because only seven states remain in the organization's quest to be
utilized in all 50 states, Bible Literacy Project is offering a free
class set of textbooks to the first public school in Delaware, Iowa,
Montana, Nevada, Rhode Island, Utah, and Wyoming ready to teach the
course. "When one school implements the course, we quickly make contact
with neighboring schools who want to try it too," said Stetson. "We
welcome the opportunity to show these remaining states the strength of
our program."
Bible Literacy Project is a non-partisan, non-profit endeavor to
encourage and facilitate the academic study of the Bible in public
schools. Along with the First Amendment Center, the Bible Literacy
Project co-published The Bible and Public Schools: A First Amendment
Guide, the historic 1999 statement that established guidelines for
teaching about the Bible in public schools. The Guide was endorsed by 21
leading organizations, including the National School Boards
Association. In 2011, the Bible Literacy Project released the second
edition of 'The Bible and Its Influence,' the first student textbook for
academic study of the Bible in public high schools in the last 30
years. This text has gained national recognition for its scholarly
approach to teaching about the Bible in compliance with First Amendment
guidelines. Designed for high school students in grades 9-12, and
enjoyed equally by college students and adult learners, 'The Bible and
Its Influence' can be taught as an English, social studies, or
humanities elective. Bible Literacy Project (www.bibleliteracy.org) is a division of Essentials in Education, an educational publisher.
Standard
Newswire
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To: National Desk
Contact: Sarah Jenislawski,
Bible Literacy Project,
540-622-2265
Bible Literacy Project
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