It's legal to teach about the bible in literature or as part of history, but that's not what this course does. The Texas Freedom Network -- a civil liberties group based in Austin -- commissioned an analysis of the curriculum earlier this year by Mark Chancey, a professor of biblical studies at Southern Methodist University. Among his conclusions:
The National Council on Bible Curriculum in not new. It claims that its course has been implemented in 312 school districts in 37 states. But it won't provide information on those school districts, and no one seems to have stepped forward lately to challenge the group. Odessa is different -- the debate over the curriculum was highly publicized and controversial, and a lawsuit is a near certainty. A press release from the Texas Freedom Network asks, "Is Odessa the Next Dover?" If it is, then Christian nationalist revisionist history -- the claim that America was founded to be a Christian nation and that separation of church and state is a subversive myth -- could be the next intelligent design.
With that in mind, I have a favor to ask. If anyone knows of any other school districts where The National Council's curriculum is being used, please let me know -- I'm planning a story about it someone in January.
Revisionist history in the public schools | 1 comment (1 topical, 0 hidden)
Revisionist history in the public schools | 1 comment (1 topical, 0 hidden)
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