LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY exotic_princess)

Maybe not *strictly* dominionist, but something to be aware of...

AUSTIN - Public school students don't need to go to church on Sunday for a strong dose of religion — in some cases, according to a new study, they merely show up for class.



School Bible courses sectarian, study finds
Most in Texas are not academic in nature as required by law


By LISA SANDBERG
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle Austin Bureau

AUSTIN - Public school students don't need to go to church on Sunday for a strong dose of religion — in some cases, according to a new study, they merely show up for class.

A yearlong investigation by the Austin-based Texas Freedom Network found that the majority of Bible courses offered as electives in the state's high schools are devotional and sectarian in nature and not academic, as required by a host of rulings from the U.S. Supreme Court on down.

"With a few notable exceptions, the public school courses currently taught in Texas often fail to meet minimal academic standards for teacher qualifications; curriculum, and academic rigor; promote one faith perspective over all others; and push an ideological agenda that is hostile to religious freedom, science and public education," states the study, which will be made public today.

The 76-page report, titled "Reading, Writing and Religion: Teaching the Bible in Texas Public Schools," is one of the most ambitious looks so far at Bible courses that have sprouted in the nation's public high schools.

The report was a joint effort by Mark Chancey, a biblical studies professor at Southern Methodist University, and the Education Fund of the Texas Freedom Network, a group that works to counter the religious right. The report was endorsed by at least eight mostly religion scholars from around the country.

The findings are sure to reignite debate on church-state boundaries as officials of some districts vowed to stick with their Bible courses as is, regardless of outside criticism.

"When do you stop asking the same questions?" said Mike Adkins, spokesman for the Ector Independent School District, which includes the city of Odessa and which this year added a Bible elective based on the much-disputed National Council on Bible Curriculum in Public Schools.

"We're comfortable with the curriculum. Our board of trustees have heard the arguments," he added.


Districts surveyed
Over the course of the year, TFN surveyed the 1,000-plus school districts in Texas to learn which offered Bible electives. Chancey then analyzed the course work, going back five years, from 25 districts — roughly 3 percent of the total that offered them as electives in 2005-2006.

Among the findings:

•The vast majority of Texas Bible courses, despite their titles, do not teach about the Bible in a historical or literary context, as required under state law. Instead, the electives tend to be explicitly devotional in nature and reflect an almost exclusively Christian (usually Protestant) perspective.
•The Bible is often presented as being divinely inspired and biblical stories treated as literal history.
•Most Bible courses in Texas are taught by teachers who have no academic training in biblical, religious or theological studies and, it appears, little familiarity with separation of church-state issues. Some districts bring in local clergy to teach their Bible courses and fund them with private money.
The report cited three exceptions: San Antonio's North East Independent School District and the Leander and Whiteface independent school districts. It said all presented material in a more neutral manner.


Motives explained
Kathy Miller, TFN's president, said her group did not initiate its yearlong project because it opposed the teaching of the Bible in schools. On the contrary, she said.

"We stand with parents who believe that the Bible is a great way to teach students about the importance of religion in history and literature. But we think pressure groups have hijacked a good idea and the end result is that these courses can betray families' faith in our public schools by teaching courses with a narrow religious perspective above all others," Miller said.

Courts have been consistent on the issue of religion in the public schools, legal experts say: Public schools can teach about religion, but they can't offer religious instruction.

Texas officials don't know which districts offer Bible electives and do not monitor content, said Debbie Ratcliffe, spokeswoman for the Texas Education Agency.

TFN's study includes urban, suburban and rural districts, from West Texas' Big Spring, which began offering its bible course in 1932 — and pretty much largely unchanged since, officials there have said — to Brazosport, which began offering its course in 1999.

Officials in some districts contacted stood their ground. Others were more guarded.

Stuart Dornburg, spokesman for the Brazosport Independent School District, said he couldn't comment other than to say the district was offering a Bible studies course.

Brady Independent School District Superintendent Steve McCarn said: "This does not serve as a proselytizing course."