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Published On: Tue, Mar 22nd, 2016

Idaho passes bill to allow Bible in public school classrooms

A bill that would allow the Bible to be used in the classrooms of public schools has passed the Idaho legislature and now goes on to Gov. C. L. “Butch” Otter for approval.
The voluntary use of the Bible as reference for subjects such as literature, history, music, and world geography would be protected by the bill when it becomes a law. Teachers would be allowed to use biblical texts in their lessons, although the bill states that the Bible cannot be used for scientific subjects.
 Bible
 Photo/Tom Morris via Wikimedia Commons

Photo/Tom Morris via Wikimedia Commons

“A lot of teachers are scared to use the Bible,” said Sen. Sheryl Nuxoll, who sponsored the bill.

Public schools are already allowed to reference the Bible as well as other religious texts in the classroom, but this piece of legislation specifically focuses on the Bible and makes it clear that it can be used in public school instruction.
Idahoednews.org notes that no student or teacher would be forced to use the Bible if they did not want to.

Sen. Janie Ward-Engelking, D-Boise, questioned the need for the law, since teachers can already use the Bible anyway.

“Once we start spelling out religious texts,” she said, “we open up the door to spelling out many, many more.”

“That, I guess, could be a possibility,” Nuxoll said. However, she drew a distinction between the Bible and other religious texts, saying the Bible is “embedded” in American culture.

The bill overcame opposition in the House.

Rep. Fred Wood, R-Burley, objected to the taxpayer funds that would be used to defend the legislation in court, saying it could amount to as much as $400,000. “I just want my constituents to know back home, this is not a vote against religion or the Bible or anything else,” he said. “What this is a vote against is needlessly wasting the taxpayers’ dollars.”

Rep. Vito Barbieri, R-Dalton Gardens, said the Bible is different than other religious tracts because it’s “fundamental to the American way of life.”

photo Imagens Evangélicas via Flickr

photo Imagens Evangélicas via Flickr

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- Writer and Co-Founder of The Global Dispatch, Brandon has been covering news, offering commentary for years, beginning professionally in 2003 on Crazed Fanboy before expanding into other blogs and sites. Appearing on several radio shows, Brandon has hosted Dispatch Radio, written his first novel (The Rise of the Templar) and completed the three years Global University program in Ministerial Studies to be a pastor. To Contact Brandon email [email protected] ATTN: BRANDON

Displaying 3 Comments
Have Your Say
  1. Idaho Gov Butch Otter vetoes bill permitting Bible as reference in schools, ‘could result for the loss of funding and costly litigation’ - The Global Dispatch says:

    […] 1342 was introduced by the Senate Education Committee at the urging of Sen. Cheryl Nuxoll, R-Cottonwood, who also works […]

  2. Tom Hohlweg says:

    This is a Christian nation from it’s inception. If you don’t like it, get the F out.

  3. Cheryl says:

    This is WRONG on so many levels. This violates the Constitution. What’s to stop the teacher now from picking up the Bible and forcing the children to read it and learn it in the public schools? Sounds like the Republican lawmakers are pushing religion in public schools. It also looks like lawmakers on pushing religion on ALL people in America, when they shouldn’t even be legislating on something that’s already spelled out in the Constitution. They are SUPPOSED to be PUBLIC officials NOT RELIGIOUS leaders of America!!! What happened to our freedoms?

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