Alabama public schools could have more options when it comes to teaching the Bible if a recently filed bill passes.
Sen. Tim Melson, R-District 1, introduced Senate Bill 14, which would allow elective courses focusing on the study of the Bible in grades six to 12.
The bill would also “allow public schools to display artifacts, monuments, symbols and texts related to the study of the Bible if displaying these items is appropriate to the overall educational purpose of the course.”
The Alabama State Board of Education would develop and implement the course.
Legal protection
Melson said he proposed the bill because teachers in his district want to teach the Bible and don’t feel comfortable doing it without a law.
Alabama Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh expressed support for Melson’s bill, saying he looks forward to working toward its passage in the upcoming legislative session.
“If students choose to study biblical literacy as an elective in school then there is no reason why that should not be allowed,” Marsh said.
At least six other states — Florida, Indiana, Missouri, North Dakota, Virginia and West Virginia — have introduced similar bills this year with legislators citing the Bible’s role in American history.
Many officials, including President Donald Trump, have expressed support for such classes.
However, the Alabama chapter of the ACLU said the bill has “no useful purpose and is an invitation to lure school districts into a false sense of security to take unconstitutional actions.”
Americans United for Separation of Church and State also has voiced opposition to the bills.
Interpretation matters
Rob Boston, senior adviser for Americans United for Separation of Church and State, wrote in a blog post that “so-called ‘Bible literacy’ courses” are often “just a cover to bring a fundamentalist interpretation of the Bible into public schools. Essentially they’re Sunday School lessons masquerading as legitimate instruction,” he wrote.
But Joe Godfrey, executive director of Alabama Citizens Action Program (ALCAP), believes the classes are a good idea and said he will encourage legislators to support Melson’s bill.
“In the early 60s, we took Bible reading and prayer out of schools and I think we see the result of that in the increase in violence and other problems within the schools,” Godfrey said. (TAB)
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