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Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Dallas-Fort Worth schools attempt to integrate Bible literacy into curriculum

by Casandra Haynes

Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers: the first four books of the Bible.

For years, the Bible was a taboo topic in classrooms. But as we've read, the state of Texas now requires teachers to include Bible literacy in curriculum, whether it is offered as an elective course or included into established English or Social Studies courses.

So here we are, mandate in place. Yet teachers and administrators say they have no guidance on what they should do or how to teach the book, and many are struggling to incorporate it correctly.

Carroll ISD, like a few other schools districts, has decided to add Bible curriculum into established classes, such as a social studies class or an English literature class. A spokesperson for the district originally told Pegasus News that Carroll ISD had no plans to implement such a program.

Then, that same spokesperson sent this update soon after: “We teach the essential knowledge and skills as approved by the SBOE [State Board of Education] and reviewed by the attorney general to ensure compliance with the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution,” said Julie Thannum, executive director of communications & marketing. “Our delivery of the religious literacy and its impact on not only literature, but history, is taught in Carroll ISD through the World History, English II and English IV [classes].”

Others already had a Biblical literacy course in place. Duncanville ISD has the course available as an elective course; it's been taught in that capacity since 2000.

“The class focuses on the actual literature of the text and not on the religion at all,” said Tammy Kuykendall, Duncanville ISD chief communications officer.

Duncanville has had good turn-out for the class and no controversy has taken place, she says. Every semester, we are able to keep the course as an elective because there are enough students to make the class happen,” Kuykendall said. “Students like it because they go through the Quaran, the Bible, and touch on other religious books.”

Other school districts are still bewildered as to how they'll teach the Bible in school. White Settlement ISD is looking to other districts as an example on how to carry out the curriculum, says David Bitter, assistant superintendent of secondary schools.

Curiosity remains on how schools are going to handle the new law effectively and implement it into their school systems, but the change has already gone into effect for the 2009-2010 school year.

Staff
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Anonymous

Put the state politicians who brought this unconstitutional BS into the time machine and send them back to the Middle Ages. Or just send them a copy of the Constitution.

chriss Anonymous

1 month, 2 weeks ago
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yeh. what chriss said. (there's a reason the dfw area is ranked 48th out of 55 major cities in "smartness")

Tracy Yost Verified

1 month, 2 weeks ago
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Obviously <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/156977000X/ref=pd_sim_books_1/103-1627325-2675030?v=glance&s=books">this is the version</a> they should be using.

"Using contemporary urban slang, this unusual book retells a selection of stories from the first five books of the Old Testament."

Or maybe <a href="http://www.lolcatbible.com/index.php?title=Matthew_2">this one, for animal lovers?</a>

"1 Nao, when Jebus was borned in teh dayz when Herod teh king wuz rockin the casbah, hai look, dere sum waiz doodz comin frm teh Eats into Jeruslim2 n dey wuz all leik “rawr! we iz waiz d00ds from teh Eats! Lol but srsly wear iz teh new leet king j00 dat got borned? In teh eats we wuz in nait timez and omg der wuz dis star in a invisibel plaen n it saied to us ‘go to Jeruslim n find leet king j00 dat got borned, but do not eated him jus be liek hey leet king j00 yu pwn srsly. k?’ so ya wer is he?”"

Pavel Lishin Verified

1 month, 2 weeks ago
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You know, if these parents want their kids to learn the bible, why don't they organize classes in their churches or homes, instead of foisting it on everyone else? Is this their lame-ass attempt at proselytizing? Or can they just not bear the idea that people can assemble in a secular context, and actually get something from the experience? If they want to inject God into a situation, let them find venues that aren't subsidized by tax dollars. Can you imagine if we passed a bill that insisted on teaching Nietzsche or Islam? I'm a devout Christian but I'm so sick of Fascist Protestantism.

dionysus Anonymous

1 month, 2 weeks ago
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If the intent really was to help provied a needed underpinning to most of western literature - which frankly the broad secularization of education has hampered a tad even beyond the inherent boredom of academe, I'd say "Cool, finally kids will laugh at stuff in Shakespeare besides the dick jokes!" -- but sadly, I don't think that's the goal.

Darn it.

Jason Rice Verified

1 month, 2 weeks ago
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It works as a course and not proselytizing because of how they teach it.<br> I went to TCU and took an intro Bible course and never once felt any emotion towards the Book because we focused solely on what era of history each book was written, who probably wrote them, and how we can tell because of the different writing styles and languages. <br> It'd be even more interesting to compare and contrast it with the Quaran.

Rachel Skinner Verified

1 month, 2 weeks ago
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"It'd be even more interesting to compare and contrast it with the Quaran."

Deadly boring if you ask me..

Travis Bush Verified

1 month, 2 weeks ago
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And still no Archaeology or primative man and ape stuff....oh well, Adam and Eve came from the North Pole with Santa Klause....A/T, Apples at the St James Theatre...

alexander troup Verified

1 month, 2 weeks ago
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Boy o' boy the religious conservatives have high jacked this country. When this era of time is reflected upon it will show that this element was the demise of this nation.

tetsujin28 Anonymous

1 month, 1 week ago
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The schools will NOT teach it as a 'history' book! For one thing it's a fable, a series of fables - how can you 'teach' a fable?

No they will teach it as a mandate for living.

I hate this. I cannot even begin to voice how much I hate this. Texas reputation as a state to live/work/move to just keeps plummeting.

Please tell me others are tired of being ridiculed too.

AnnMarie Wilson Verified

1 month, 1 week ago
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Stop whining Christ haters! Every other crap is being taught in the schools. What difference can it make to teach another book of real history and soap opera stories? In fact the Bible has more soap and laughter with tragedy and unexplainable magic than any other book on earth. And in my opinion it's all truth. So why not, educate from this vein! My kids and I enjoy it more than Harry Potter's crap....

ibjc Anonymous

3 weeks, 3 days ago
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Crap haters.

OEsophagus Anonymous

3 weeks, 3 days ago
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ibjc: read the f*ing Constitution. You want your kids learning what Noam Chomsky called "the most genocidal book in the cannon"? Then teach it to them yourself.

Do you really believe the sun revolves around the earth?