Two overlooked points about the Bible in the Classroom bill

by David Safier

A few points about Terri Proud's Bible in the Classroom bill should be noted.

First, nothing has ever stopped a school from creating a course studying the Bible as literature as well as its place in history. In 1970, my high school English department in Oregon had quarter electives that fulfilled English requirements. One was The Bible as Literature. I doubt Arizona law is more restrictive than Oregon's.

Second, how many students do you think will opt to spend a semester or a year studying the Bible in high school if the class doesn't fulfill any requirements other than an elective like art, choir or band? In other states where this law is on the books (Anyone surprised Proud didn't come up with this on her own?), many schools have abandoned the classes, for lack of interest.

Unless this is a step toward Judeo-Christianizing our schools which will be followed by more seriously religious legislation, the bill is much ado about nothing. It's little more than a sop to the base.