Texas Public Schools Required To Teach The Bible

[SOCALHUSKER]

By privatizing, meaning establishing property rights, and allowing the market to function. This allows individuals to voluntarily make transactions and choices, which leads to more efficient businesses and ensures the production of goods and services that the population is actually in need of. Is paying for something that an individual does not consider beneficial, not considered wasteful?

 

 

Okay...I get ya.

So then where do we get money for the roads we drive on? Stop lights, bridges, and all that jazz?

How about our military...who's gonna fund that?

Do we still get to have 911? Police/fire services? If those are privatized...do you just get a bill after you call the fire department to put out your house fire?

Do we still have a criminal detention system...or are our prisons paid for by some corporation?

Should we just make libraries privatized? I much prefer being able to check books out for free than pay rental fees for research materials I borrowed in high school or college.

How about National Parks? I love being able to visit the Rocky Mountain National Park when I visit Colorado

Are there still zoning laws in effect? Or can I just take over my neighbors backyard and call it mine?

Mass transportation systems?

How about that rest stop I always stop at when I drive out to Lincoln for a game day?

Is my bank account still insured by FDIC?

 

 

just curious

 

Edit: First of all, where does the government get the money to perform those services? Does that source suddenly disappear because government is gone?

 

Those are all very valid questions, which would require both a novel to answer and a complete derailment of this thread on education. If you really are interested, many of these questions were touched on in this thread. Post there and I'll try my best to answer any questions you may have. Also you can peruse the following sites for more info.

 

The Molinari Institute

 

Lew Rockwell

 

Strike The Root

 

Agorist Info

 

Anarcho-Capitalism

 

An Annotated Bibliography

 

Freedomain Radio (one of the best)

 

Also read A Market For Liberty for a basic overview of a voluntaryist society.

[SOCALHUSKER]

An excellent article about the funding of public education.

 

Who Will Inherit Your Money When You Die?

[huskertim]

In my private school I was exposed to the key tenants of Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and a variety of variant sects of each. As an academic issue there is no question that Greco-Roman logical forms mixed with the monotheism of the middle east (especially Tanakh and New Testament) founded our present society. Any attempt to remove the Bible from history or even modern religious discussion is disingenuous and a bi-product of the fundamentalist atheism so popular with the coffee shop crowd these days.

 

In a free society we should be open to the free discussion of any topic at any place. Debate is to be encouraged, even polarization when possible. Our strength as a civilized people is our ability to not shut out opposition. The public schools not allowing free expression of religion is troubling, to say the least.

 

 

Husker X, you sir are a genius. This post is short, on topic and expresses a well considered opion. What private school did you attend?

 

I couldn't agree more, especially about the atheist comment. The latte swilling pseudo intellectuals who are willing to dismiss the very foundation of our civilization because of their need to establish their own intellectual superiority. Honestly, even the LDS guys will stop bugging you if you ignore them long enough, but not this group of self anointed oracles.

[huskertim]

BTW SOCAL, if China's students are leaving us in the dust in a socialist run school system, how exactly does that support your position on our public schools failing because of government.

 

My experience with OPS is simply, you get what you take. IE, I didn't give a crap about high school so I didn't do exceptionally well. Once I got to college, and had to pay for it myself, I was on the dean's list regularly. On the other hand, my daughter had been in the gifted program at OPS since first grade, but since daddy is gonna foot the bill for college,she hasn't even applied for schollies yet. Perhaps our nation suffers from it's success, we wouldn't be the first civilization to fall prey to the social, economic, and moral atropy that wealth oftens brings with it.

[huzkerbob]

In my private school I was exposed to the key tenants of Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and a variety of variant sects of each. As an academic issue there is no question that Greco-Roman logical forms mixed with the monotheism of the middle east (especially Tanakh and New Testament) founded our present society. Any attempt to remove the Bible from history or even modern religious discussion is disingenuous and a bi-product of the fundamentalist atheism so popular with the coffee shop crowd these days.

 

In a free society we should be open to the free discussion of any topic at any place. Debate is to be encouraged, even polarization when possible. Our strength as a civilized people is our ability to not shut out opposition. The public schools not allowing free expression of religion is troubling, to say the least.

 

 

Husker X, you sir are a genius. This post is short, on topic and expresses a well considered opion. What private school did you attend?

 

I couldn't agree more, especially about the atheist comment. The latte swilling seudo intellectuals who are willing to dismiss the very foundation of our civilization because of their need to establish their own intellectual superiority. Honestly, even the LDS guys will stop bugging you if you ignore them long enough, but not this group of sellf anointed oracles.

 

Superiority complex anyone?

[rawhide]

I be from the PS system. j/k

 

 

Lincoln PS system yeah baby 1960-1972 oops Waverly also.

 

 

I think it isn't so much the system as the family institution. Parents have the responsibility to ensure their children are doing their homework and instilling the values necessary for their children to succeed in school and life. PARENTS not school teachers.

 

I took a World Religion class for a humanity's requirement to graduate from nursing school. Great teacher and I was amazed at the information presented. I only missed the class where the Satanist talked. Ain't pushing my luck.

 

 

GBR

[SOCALHUSKER]

BTW SOCAL, if China's students are leaving us in the dust in a socialist run school system, how exactly does that support your position on our public schools failing because of government.

 

My experience with OPS is simply, you get what you take. IE, I didn't give a crap about high school so I didn't do exceptionally well. Once I got to college, and had to pay for it myself, I was on the dean's list regularly. On the other hand, my daughter had been in the gifted program at OPS since first grade, but since daddy is gonna foot the bill for college,she hasn't even applied for schollies yet. Perhaps our nation suffers from it's success, we wouldn't be the first civilization to fall prey to the social, economic, and moral atropy that wealth oftens brings with it.

 

When did I ever say that China was leaving us in the dust?

[huskertim]

BTW SOCAL, if China's students are leaving us in the dust in a socialist run school system, how exactly does that support your position on our public schools failing because of government.

 

My experience with OPS is simply, you get what you take. IE, I didn't give a crap about high school so I didn't do exceptionally well. Once I got to college, and had to pay for it myself, I was on the dean's list regularly. On the other hand, my daughter had been in the gifted program at OPS since first grade, but since daddy is gonna foot the bill for college,she hasn't even applied for schollies yet. Perhaps our nation suffers from it's success, we wouldn't be the first civilization to fall prey to the social, economic, and moral atropy that wealth oftens brings with it.

 

When did I ever say that China was leaving us in the dust?

 

Sorry, that was HuskerX who implied that. That's what I get for reading too many posts at once then trying to respond off the top of my head. I should have known that wouldn't have escaped your attention.

[sarge87]

Bump

[sarge87]

Texas Public Schools Required To Teach The Bible

 

WHITEHOUSE, TX (KLTV) - The school year is almost here, and if literature of the Bible is not already offered in your child's school, it will be this fall.

 

Books are a common sight in classrooms around the nation, but the Bible is one book that is not. Come this fall, a Texas law says all public schools must offer information relating to the Bible in their curriculum.

 

"By the end of the year, what they begin to realize is that it is pervasive. You can't get away from it. The kids came back and were like 'It's everywhere,'" said John Keeling, the social studies chair at Whitehouse High School. Whitehouse already offers a Bible elective. "The purpose of a course like this isn't even really to get kids to believe it, per se, it is just to appreciate the profound impact that it has had on our history and on our government."

 

The law actually passed in 2007, but this will be the first school year it is enforced because the bill says, "The provisions of this act pertaining to a school district do not take effect until the 2009-2010 school year."

 

This has gained mixed reactions from East Texans.

 

"I think it is a good thing because a lot of kids don't have that experience, and they already want to take prayer out of school as it is, and you see where our kids are ending up!" said Tyler resident Laura Tucker.

 

Tyler resident, Havis Tatum, disagrees with Tucker.

 

"I don't want anybody teaching their religious beliefs to my child unless they want to send their child to my house and let me teach them my religious views," said Tatum. "There is no difference."

 

School officials said schools have not enforced the law because of confusion over the bill's wording and lack of state funding.

 

For now, each school district must find a way to fill the requirement before the seats are filled with students.

 

We would like to know what you think about this story. Click here to leave your comments and read the contents of Texas House Bill 1287.

As I figured, this is really something about nothing. In crafting the bill they have taken great measures to dot the I's and cross the T's.

 

H.B. No. 1287

 

 

 

 

AN ACT

relating to public school elective courses providing academic study

of the Bible.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is

amended by adding Section 28.011 to read as follows:

Sec. 28.011. ELECTIVE COURSES ON THE BIBLE'S HEBREW

SCRIPTURES (OLD TESTAMENT) AND NEW TESTAMENT AND THEIR IMPACT ON

THE HISTORY AND LITERATURE OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION. (a) A school

district may offer to students in grade nine or above:

(1) an elective course on the Hebrew Scriptures (Old

Testament) and its impact and an elective course on the New

Testament and its impact; or

(2) an elective course that combines the courses

described by Subdivision (1).

B. The purpose of a course under this section is to:

(1) teach students knowledge of biblical content,

characters, poetry, and narratives that are prerequisites to

understanding contemporary society and culture, including

literature, art, music, mores, oratory, and public policy; and

(2) familiarize students with, as applicable:

(A) the contents of the Hebrew Scriptures or New

Testament;

B. the history of the Hebrew Scriptures or New

Testament;

C. the literary style and structure of the

Hebrew Scriptures or New Testament; and

(D) the influence of the Hebrew Scriptures or New

Testament on law, history, government, literature, art, music,

customs, morals, values, and culture.

c. A student may not be required to use a specific

translation as the sole text of the Hebrew Scriptures or New

Testament and may use as the basic textbook a different translation

of the Hebrew Scriptures or New Testament from that chosen by the

board of trustees of the student's school district or the student's

teacher.

(d) A course offered under this section shall follow

applicable law and all federal and state guidelines in maintaining

religious neutrality and accommodating the diverse religious

views, traditions, and perspectives of students in their school

district. A course under this section shall not endorse, favor, or

promote, or disfavor or show hostility toward, any particular

religion or nonreligious faith or religious perspective. Nothing in

this statute is intended to violate any provision of the United

States Constitution or federal law, the Texas Constitution or any

state law, or any rules or guidelines provided by the United States

Department of Education or the Texas Education Agency.

(e) Before adopting rules identifying the essential

knowledge and skills of a course offered under this section, the

State Board of Education shall submit the proposed essential

knowledge and skills to the attorney general. The attorney general

shall review the proposed essential knowledge and skills to ensure

that the course complies with the First Amendment to the United

States Constitution, and the board may not adopt rules identifying

the essential knowledge and skills of a course offered under this

section without the attorney general's approval under this

subsection.

(f) A teacher of a course offered under this section must

hold a minimum of a High School Composite Certification in language

arts, social studies, or history with, where practical, a minor in

religion or biblical studies. A teacher selected to teach a course

under this section shall successfully complete staff development

training outlined in Section 21.459. A course under this section

may only be taught by a teacher who has successfully completed

training under Section 21.459.

(g) For the purpose of a student earning credit for high

school graduation, a school district shall grant one-half academic

elective credit for satisfactory completion of a course on the

Hebrew Scriptures, one-half academic elective credit for

satisfactory completion of a course on the New Testament, and

one-half academic elective credit for satisfactory completion of a

combined course on both the Hebrew Scriptures and the New

Testament. This subsection applies only to a course that is taught

in strict compliance with this section.

(h) If, for a particular semester, fewer than 15 students at

a school district campus register to enroll in a course required by

this section, the district is not required to offer the course at

that campus for that semester.

(i) This section does not prohibit the board of trustees of

a school district from offering an elective course based on the

books of a religion other than Christianity. In determining whether

to offer such a course, the board may consider various factors,

including student and parent demand for such a course and the impact

such books have had on history and culture.

(j) This section does not prohibit a school district from

offering a course, other than the course authorized by this

section, in the academic study of the Hebrew Scriptures, the New

Testament, or both for local credit or for state elective credit

towards high school graduation.

SECTION 2. Subchapter J, Chapter 21, Education Code, is

amended by adding Section 21.459 to read as follows:

Sec. 21.459. BIBLE COURSE TRAINING. (a) The commissioner

shall develop and make available training materials and other

teacher training resources for a school district to use in

assisting teachers of elective Bible courses in developing:

(1) expertise in the appropriate Bible course

curriculum;

(2) understanding of applicable supreme court rulings

and current constitutional law regarding how Bible courses are to

be taught in public schools objectively as a part of a secular

program of education;

(3) understanding of how to present the Bible in an

objective, academic manner that neither promotes nor disparages

religion, nor is taught from a particular sectarian point of view;

(4) proficiency in instructional approaches that

present course material in a manner that respects all faiths and

religious traditions, while favoring none; and

(5) expertise in how to avoid devotional content or

proselytizing in the classroom.

B. The commissioner shall develop materials and resources

under this section in consultation with appropriate faculty members

at institutions of higher education.

C. The commissioner shall make the training materials and

other teacher training resources required under Subsection (a)

available to Bible course teachers through access to in-service

training.

(d) The commissioner shall use funds appropriated for the

purpose to administer this section.

SECTION 3. Section 28.002(a), Education Code, is amended to

read as follows:

(a) Each school district that offers kindergarten through

grade 12 shall offer, as a required curriculum:

(1) a foundation curriculum that includes:

(A) English language arts;

B. mathematics;

C. science; and

(D) social studies, consisting of Texas, United

States, and world history, government, and geography; and

(2) an enrichment curriculum that includes:

(A) to the extent possible, languages other than

English;

B. health, with emphasis on the importance of

proper nutrition and exercise;

C. physical education;

(D) fine arts;

(E) economics, with emphasis on the free

enterprise system and its benefits;

(F) career and technology education; [and]

(G) technology applications; and

(H) religious literature, including the Hebrew

Scriptures (Old Testament) and New Testament, and its impact on

history and literature.

SECTION 4. The provisions of this Act pertaining to a school

district do not take effect until the 2009-2010 school year.

SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives

a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as

provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this

Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this

Act takes effect September 1, 2007.

 

 

______________________________ ______________________________

President of the Senate Speaker of the House

 

 

I certify that H.B. No. 1287 was passed by the House on May 9,

2007, by the following vote: Yeas 139, Nays 1, 3 present, not

voting.

 

______________________________

Chief Clerk of the House

 

 

I certify that H.B. No. 1287 was passed by the Senate on May

23, 2007, by the following vote: Yeas 28, Nays 2.

 

______________________________

Secretary of the Senate

APPROVED: _____________________

Date

 

_____________________

Governor

 

Source legis.state.tx.us

[SOCALHUSKER]

 

As I figured, this is really something about nothing. In crafting the bill they have taken great measures to dot the I's and cross the T's.

 

H.B. No. 1287

 

 

 

 

AN ACT

relating to public school elective courses providing academic study

of the Bible.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is

amended by adding Section 28.011 to read as follows:

Sec. 28.011. ELECTIVE COURSES ON THE BIBLE'S HEBREW

SCRIPTURES (OLD TESTAMENT) AND NEW TESTAMENT AND THEIR IMPACT ON

THE HISTORY AND LITERATURE OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION. (a) A school

district may offer to students in grade nine or above:

(1) an elective course on the Hebrew Scriptures (Old

Testament) and its impact and an elective course on the New

Testament and its impact; or

(2) an elective course that combines the courses

described by Subdivision (1).

B. The purpose of a course under this section is to:

(1) teach students knowledge of biblical content,

characters, poetry, and narratives that are prerequisites to

understanding contemporary society and culture, including

literature, art, music, mores, oratory, and public policy; and

(2) familiarize students with, as applicable:

(A) the contents of the Hebrew Scriptures or New

Testament;

B. the history of the Hebrew Scriptures or New

Testament;

C. the literary style and structure of the

Hebrew Scriptures or New Testament; and

(D) the influence of the Hebrew Scriptures or New

Testament on law, history, government, literature, art, music,

customs, morals, values, and culture.

c. A student may not be required to use a specific

translation as the sole text of the Hebrew Scriptures or New

Testament and may use as the basic textbook a different translation

of the Hebrew Scriptures or New Testament from that chosen by the

board of trustees of the student's school district or the student's

teacher.

(d) A course offered under this section shall follow

applicable law and all federal and state guidelines in maintaining

religious neutrality and accommodating the diverse religious

views, traditions, and perspectives of students in their school

district. A course under this section shall not endorse, favor, or

promote, or disfavor or show hostility toward, any particular

religion or nonreligious faith or religious perspective. Nothing in

this statute is intended to violate any provision of the United

States Constitution or federal law, the Texas Constitution or any

state law, or any rules or guidelines provided by the United States

Department of Education or the Texas Education Agency.

(e) Before adopting rules identifying the essential

knowledge and skills of a course offered under this section, the

State Board of Education shall submit the proposed essential

knowledge and skills to the attorney general. The attorney general

shall review the proposed essential knowledge and skills to ensure

that the course complies with the First Amendment to the United

States Constitution, and the board may not adopt rules identifying

the essential knowledge and skills of a course offered under this

section without the attorney general's approval under this

subsection.

(f) A teacher of a course offered under this section must

hold a minimum of a High School Composite Certification in language

arts, social studies, or history with, where practical, a minor in

religion or biblical studies. A teacher selected to teach a course

under this section shall successfully complete staff development

training outlined in Section 21.459. A course under this section

may only be taught by a teacher who has successfully completed

training under Section 21.459.

(g) For the purpose of a student earning credit for high

school graduation, a school district shall grant one-half academic

elective credit for satisfactory completion of a course on the

Hebrew Scriptures, one-half academic elective credit for

satisfactory completion of a course on the New Testament, and

one-half academic elective credit for satisfactory completion of a

combined course on both the Hebrew Scriptures and the New

Testament. This subsection applies only to a course that is taught

in strict compliance with this section.

(h) If, for a particular semester, fewer than 15 students at

a school district campus register to enroll in a course required by

this section, the district is not required to offer the course at

that campus for that semester.

(i) This section does not prohibit the board of trustees of

a school district from offering an elective course based on the

books of a religion other than Christianity. In determining whether

to offer such a course, the board may consider various factors,

including student and parent demand for such a course and the impact

such books have had on history and culture.

(j) This section does not prohibit a school district from

offering a course, other than the course authorized by this

section, in the academic study of the Hebrew Scriptures, the New

Testament, or both for local credit or for state elective credit

towards high school graduation.

SECTION 2. Subchapter J, Chapter 21, Education Code, is

amended by adding Section 21.459 to read as follows:

Sec. 21.459. BIBLE COURSE TRAINING. (a) The commissioner

shall develop and make available training materials and other

teacher training resources for a school district to use in

assisting teachers of elective Bible courses in developing:

(1) expertise in the appropriate Bible course

curriculum;

(2) understanding of applicable supreme court rulings

and current constitutional law regarding how Bible courses are to

be taught in public schools objectively as a part of a secular

program of education;

(3) understanding of how to present the Bible in an

objective, academic manner that neither promotes nor disparages

religion, nor is taught from a particular sectarian point of view;

(4) proficiency in instructional approaches that

present course material in a manner that respects all faiths and

religious traditions, while favoring none; and

(5) expertise in how to avoid devotional content or

proselytizing in the classroom.

B. The commissioner shall develop materials and resources

under this section in consultation with appropriate faculty members

at institutions of higher education.

C. The commissioner shall make the training materials and

other teacher training resources required under Subsection (a)

available to Bible course teachers through access to in-service

training.

(d) The commissioner shall use funds appropriated for the

purpose to administer this section.

SECTION 3. Section 28.002(a), Education Code, is amended to

read as follows:

(a) Each school district that offers kindergarten through

grade 12 shall offer, as a required curriculum:

(1) a foundation curriculum that includes:

(A) English language arts;

B. mathematics;

C. science; and

(D) social studies, consisting of Texas, United

States, and world history, government, and geography; and

(2) an enrichment curriculum that includes:

(A) to the extent possible, languages other than

English;

B. health, with emphasis on the importance of

proper nutrition and exercise;

C. physical education;

(D) fine arts;

(E) economics, with emphasis on the free

enterprise system and its benefits;

(F) career and technology education; [and]

(G) technology applications; and

(H) religious literature, including the Hebrew

Scriptures (Old Testament) and New Testament, and its impact on

history and literature.

SECTION 4. The provisions of this Act pertaining to a school

district do not take effect until the 2009-2010 school year.

SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives

a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as

provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this

Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this

Act takes effect September 1, 2007.

 

 

______________________________ ______________________________

President of the Senate Speaker of the House

 

 

I certify that H.B. No. 1287 was passed by the House on May 9,

2007, by the following vote: Yeas 139, Nays 1, 3 present, not

voting.

 

______________________________

Chief Clerk of the House

 

 

I certify that H.B. No. 1287 was passed by the Senate on May

23, 2007, by the following vote: Yeas 28, Nays 2.

 

______________________________

Secretary of the Senate

APPROVED: _____________________

Date

 

_____________________

Governor

 

Source legis.state.tx.us

 

Is it really nothing that the government uses violence or the threat of violence to steal from people to fund programs that they don't agree with?

[Vuren]

they want the bible taught in schools? i want the Hávamál taught in schools then.

[Apathy]

Me personally I've always have been that type of person who's always said that you go to school for an education and you go to church for an education about God. Parents want the best for their kids agree? Kids go to school to get an education on Math, Science, Social Studies, and History, you know the basics.

 

The more you progress in school the more classes are available such as Economics, Spanish, French, Algebra 1 & 2, Trig, American Government, Criminal Justice, American Literature etc. In some Public High Schools you can pick your classes like you can in College as long as you've taken the correct criteria to continue on to the next class for example you can't take Spanish 2 before taking Spanish 1. You take the classes in high school that you're more interested in and that you want to excell in if you have that option. You graduate High School and then you move on to College and you major in something anything that you want to do for the rest of your life. Most all businesses will not hire you because of your religious background or who you worship. Most all businesses don't care what grades you got in High School or College, they only care about that High School and/or College Degree and thats it.

 

Will teaching kids religion in school help that kid excell in his or hers future job? Will teaching kids religion in school give them an upper edge on the job market? Lets take care of our kids first and give them the proper education to allow them to excell in life and on the job market.

[SOCALHUSKER]

Will teaching kids religion in school help that kid excell in his or hers future job? Will teaching kids religion in school give them an upper edge on the job market? Lets take care of our kids first and give them the proper education to allow them to excell in life and on the job market.

 

Who is the "we" you speak of when you mention "our" kids?

[Apathy]

Will teaching kids religion in school help that kid excell in his or hers future job? Will teaching kids religion in school give them an upper edge on the job market? Lets take care of our kids first and give them the proper education to allow them to excell in life and on the job market.

 

Who is the "we" you speak of when you mention "our" kids?

 

When I see "we" and "our" I'm not saying you guys posting on this thread if thats what you're impling, I'm just saying it could be anybody in general not just on certain individuals. It could any american, religious and/or non religious person, a poor family and/or rich family...etc.