LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY exotic_princess)

I don't recall seeing this posted recently (am I overlooking it, or is there a search feature?), so I hope this isn't a repeat. My apologies, if so.

Link to story

(7/03/07 - ODESSA, TX) - Attorneys representing the Ector County Independent School District said in a motion filed in federal court Monday that school officials believe a Bible course being taught as an elective has been presented and taught appropriately.

The American Civil Liberties Union and People for the American Way Foundation sued the Odessa-area district in May, asking it to stop teaching the course. The lawsuit on behalf of eight parents said the course violated individual religious rights.

The Ector school board approved the high school course by a 4-2 vote in 2005.
"Their claims are wrong," said Kelly Shackelford, chief counsel for the Liberty Legal Institute. "The allegations are invalid."

...


The Bible course teaches the King James version of the sacred text using material produced by the Greensboro, N.C.-based National Council on Bible Curriculum in Public Schools. The course uses the Bible as the students' textbook.
The National Council said its curriculum is used in hundreds of school districts, including more than 50 in Texas.




Personally I think that - elective or not - a 'bible class' should be taught objectively and I think this curriculum is known for not being objective. Thinking back, I'm sure that back in May this probably got mentioned here. Hopefully it's not too soon for a repeat ;)

more info:
http://www.aclu.org/religion/schools/29738prs20070516.html

The Bible course uses the King James Version as its main textbook, which is not the Bible of choice for a wide range of Christian denominations, nor for members of the Jewish faith. It requires students to give "true" or "false" answers to questions that are a matter of religious faith. Although it would be appropriate in Sunday School, the public school course unconstitutionally uses the Bible to instill religious life lessons, having students memorize biblical passages and then discuss how they have affected their lives, the group filing the lawsuits said. The course also presents an unbalanced viewpoint of American history that promotes specific religious beliefs that is in conflict with objective scholarly standards.


From the other side: http://tinyurl.com/ys6gad (stoptheaclu.com)

~~The KJV is about as neutral as you can get in a Bible history class. There is no way to please every person in every religion in every denomination. Hence the board’s choice to make the class an elective and to use a widely-read version.
~~Wonder where Dr. Gunn stands on evolution. Abstinence programs. Handing out condoms. Bet I know. And he wants to accuse the Bible elective class of proselytizing. Thanks for the laugh, Doc. If this is what a “highly qualified education” in one of our fine liberal, humanist universities does for you, no thanks.

http://tinyurl.com/2ybrcl - Christian Post article