West Orange – Stark High School students may have the
opportunity to study about the Bible and its impact on
literature and history if the West Orange – Cove CISD Board of
Trustees approves the proposal to add the class at a meeting
this month.
West Orange – Cove CISD
Superintendent Dr. O. Taylor Collins said, “The Principals and
the District Leadership Team have been studying the new course
and possibly adding it the curriculum at the High School. As
presented, it is an academic elective course.
“It is a legal course. No
proselytizing will be done. The teachers will be trained so that
the information presented to students will be constitutional,”
he said.
The textbook for the
proposed course will be The
Bible and its Influence published by BLP Publishing.
The textbook:
1.
Studies the Bible
academically and the Bible’s role in life, language and culture.
2.
Gives awareness of
religious content of the Bible.
3.
Studies about religion
as presented in the Bible.
4.
Encounters differing
religious views.
5.
Does not ask students to
conform to any of the beliefs encountered.
Unit
features include Biblical Allusions; Milton and the Bible;
Literary Views of Abraham and Isaac; Exodus and Emancipation;
Exile and Return; Thirst for Justice; The Bible and Shakespeare;
A Summary of Literary Genres in the Bible; Parables of Mercy; A
Death with Meaning; Augustine; The Legacy of the Reformation;
Dante’s
Purgatorio;
and Freedom and Faith in America.
The
book’s graphics include famous American leaders such as Rev. Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr., Abraham Lincoln; the book cover of
Uncle Tom’s Cabin;
photographs of famous artwork from Michelangelo, Raphael, Degas,
and Rembrandt; maps of ancient Egypt and other ancient
countries; photographs and writings associated with great
philosophers; a discussion of 20th Century prophets;
and more.
If
approved, the course will follow Texas Essential Knowledge and
Skills for “Special Topics in Social Studies.” It does require
that students read directly from the Bible, any translation,
alongside the student textbook. When the textbook includes
excerpts from the Bible, it uses among a variety of several
translations so there is a broad representation in the book.
The
proposed course will be a one-half credit course, and the course
instructor will receive additional training in course
presentation and First Amendment standards.
The
textbook has been tested and utilized in public schools in
California, Oregon and the state of Washington. It is also being
taught at New Braunfels High School, where the course was the
cover story of a Time
magazine article “Why We Should Teach the Bible in Public
School.” The article appeared in the April 2, 2007 issue.
A
recent Associated Press article reporting on proposed
legislation to require Texas schools to offer Bible literacy
courses stated that 25 schools in the state currently offer
these type courses.
The
proposed course will be on the WO-C School Board agenda for
discussion only at the Monday, April 23, 2007 Board of Trustee
committee meeting. The item may be placed as an action agenda
item at the April 30 meeting. Both meetings will be held at the
WO-C Administration Building Board Room at 6 p.m.
The Bible and
Its Influence textbook is
also available for public viewing at the WO-C Administration
Building, 505 15th Street. Additionally, individuals
may send their comments regarding the course proposal to Dr. O.
Taylor Collins, WOCCISD, P.O. Box
1107, Orange, Texas, 77631. They may also contact his office
with comments at 882-5437.
