Bible classes get a push for public schools
Critics: Plans run afoul of First Amendment
A wave of “Bible literacy” bills in state legislatures would allow more students in public high schools to study the Old and New Testaments.
Proposals from lawmakers in at least six states would require or encourage schools to offer elective classes on the Bible’s literary and historical significance. That’s a more narrow focus than what’s typically covered in courses on world religions.
Some of the lawmakers – and leaders of Christian groups supporting the bills – say they want to restore traditional values in schools and give students a chance to study the religious text deeply.
“The Bible is an integral part of our society and deserves a place in the classroom,” said Republican state Rep. Aaron McWilliams of North Dakota, a co-
sponsor of a bill that would require the state’s public high schools to offer Bible studies.
Opponents say the measures come close to violating the constitutional line between church and state and, might overstep it. They say the proposals are part of a coordinated effort by evangelical political groups pushing model legislation in several states.
“State legislators should not be fooled that these bills are anything more than part of a scheme to impose Christian beliefs on public schoolchildren,” said Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State.
This year, Bible literacy bills have been introduced in Florida, Indiana, Missouri, North Dakota, Virginia and West Virginia, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.
At least three Bible literacy bills were considered in 2018 – in Alabama, Iowa and West Virginia – but none passed, the ACLU said. Tennessee passed a related but slightly different bill.
The year before, Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin signed into law a Bible studies bill. It created guidelines for public high schools to offer electives on the literature of the Bible and Hebrew Scriptures.
Laser said the Bible studies classes are likely to convey a religious message and preference. That would violate the First Amendment, which guarantees that the government won’t act in a way that prefers one religion over another and that people can practice whatever religion they wish.
In short, there’s a line in public schools between teaching about a religion and proselytizing. Lawmakers say the classes can be taught in a way that doesn’t overstep that line.
The proposals are linked to a common source: an initiative called Project Blitz coordinated by conservative Christian political groups.
Those groups include the Congressional Prayer Caucus Foundation, which aims to protect religious liberties; the National Legal Foundation, a Christian public-interest law firm; and the nonprofit WallBuilders, which emphasizes the “moral, religious and constitutional foundation upon which America was built,” according to its website. WallBuilders’ name is a biblical reference to grassroots work and does not refer to the debate over the border wall between the USA and Mexico.
Critics say the groups are trying to reshape America by cementing proChristian messages in public schools.
“They have put out a more than 100page playbook that lays out very plainly their strategy into tiers of bills that they want to pass,” said Amanda Tyler, executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, which advocates for keeping government out of matters pertaining to faith.
The ACLU provided a copy of the 2018 version of the playbook, called the “Report and Analysis on Religious Freedom Measures Affecting Prayer and Faith in America.” Model legislation and talking points within it advocate for preserving the country’s Judeo-Christian heritage and enshrining conservative values in public policy. For instance, the groups say marriage and child adoption should be practiced only by heterosexual, married couples.
As for the Bible literacy proposals, Tyler of the Baptist Joint Committee said that lawmakers who have busy legislative calendars may sign on to bills that look innocuous but may further a troubling agenda.
“Anything that might send a message to our children that you have to be a Christian to be a full American is extremely problematic,” she said.
David Barton, a Christian political activist and the founder of WallBuilders, said that’s a mischaracterization of the bills.
“Bible literacy is a good thing to have,” he said. “For me, the issue is that many schools don’t (offer Bible studies courses) because they think they can’t legally. We are saying, ‘Well, yes, you can.’ ”
Requests for comment to the Congressional Prayer Caucus Foundation were not returned.
The same coordinated initiative helped push bills in 12 states last year that called for public schools to post the national motto, “In God We Trust,” ACLU leaders said.
Six states passed those bills into law. This year, similar bills have been introduced in Alaska, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Mississippi, Nebraska, New York and South Carolina, according to the ACLU.