West Virginia School District in Legal Battle Over Bible Classes

[rangerrebew]

West Virginia School District in Legal Battle Over Bible Classes
The classes are optional, but some say they violate the Constitution.
Flickr/Jimmy Emerson, DVM
 

By Liberty McArtor Published on April 26, 2017 • 1 Comment
Liberty McArtor

Can a public school offer Bible courses during the school day? That’s the issue before a federal district court in West Virginia.

Mercer County, West Virginia came under fire from the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) in January. FFRF complained that Mercer County offered Bible classes in many of its public schools. Classes are optional for the district’s elementary, intermediate and middle school students. Called Bible in the Schools, the classes have existed in Mercer County in some form since the 1930s, The Washington Post reported. Most children in the district opt to attend the classes. Classes last 30 minutes for elementary students and 45 for middle school students.

https://stream.org/west-virginia-school-district-in-legal-battle-over-bible-classes/

[rangerrebew]

Will the plaintiffs try to get this moved to the ninth circuit?

[mountaineer]

I took as an English class in 11th grade a zillion years ago, "Bible as Literature." It really was taught as literature, no attempt to persuade.

Nowadays, if a school district wants to offer Bible class - even optional ones -  they'll probably be forced to offer the Quran, as well. No other alternative religion, just Islam. 

[Cripplecreek]

I took as an English class in 11th grade a zillion years ago, "Bible as Literature." It really was taught as literature, no attempt to persuade.

Nowadays, if a school district wants to offer Bible class - even optional ones -  they'll probably be forced to offer the Quran, as well. No other alternative religion, just Islam. 

Back in the early 80s the minister of our church taught an elective course on theology at our high school.

The town hall in my little town once did triple duty as a church and a school as well as town hall.