Bible study in public schools OK only for academic reasons

The Shelby County, Tenn., school board decided last week to go ahead with an elective class for high school students that would ostensibly teach the Bible as literature or history.

The course will be partially funded by private sources, with teachers' salaries and Bibles donated or paid for with private funds. It will be offered in all seven Shelby County high schools.

If the school board had no ulterior motive, this would be a fine proposal. Ole Miss offers several classes which teach the Bible in the context of literature or history, or from an objective theological standpoint. The Bible is arguably the most important book in Western culture, and any understanding of the world must include it.

The problem is that some school board members plan to make this class an outlet for their own religious viewpoints. School boad member Joe Clayton, who has pushed for prayer in Shelby County schools in the past, said in Sunday's Commercial-Appeal that he wouln't mind if the class was used to teach the Bible from a Christian rather than a historical or literary perspective. Such teachings would undoubtably be unconstitutional, and the school board would be risking the ire of non-Christian parents as well as lengthy and expensive lawsuits if indeed the proposed Bible class was used to intoctrinate students on Christianity.

Other Tennessee school systems have tried such tactics in the past, only to be sued successfully by the American Civil Liberties Union. ACLU of Tennessee Executive Director Hedy Weinberg says that often such classes as the ones proposed in Shelby County amount to nothing more than representatives of local churches reading and interpreting the Bible to students in class.

Even if the school board had the best of intentions, it would be difficult to keep the class a purely academic one. If the class is privately funded, local churches and individuals could influence the curriculum through their money and indoctrinate children with their religious beliefs.

The Bible is very important to an understanding of Western history and literature, as well as a guide to life for many people. Religion is also an important part of life, but it belongs in the home and in the church, not in the public school classroom. If the proposed Bible study class sticks to the facts, it could be a very good thing for students. However, if the class is used as a way around the law to let religion into public school through the back door, it could damage students, the school board's reputation and even end up costing Shelby County millions of dollars.