Title: Texas public schools require Bible this year
Post by: skurry on August 17, 2009, 12:12:25 AM
Post by: skurry on August 17, 2009, 12:12:25 AM
http://www.kltv.com/global/story.asp?s=10933571 (http://www.kltv.com/global/story.asp?s=10933571)
*sigh* *facepalm* *etc*
*sigh* *facepalm* *etc*
Title: Re: Texas public schools require Bible this year
Post by: curiosityandthecat on August 17, 2009, 12:43:56 AM
Post by: curiosityandthecat on August 17, 2009, 12:43:56 AM
Quote from: "FTA""I think it is a good thing because a lot of kids don't have that experience, and they already want to take prayer out of school as it is-- and you see where our kids are ending up!" said Tyler resident Laura Tucker.People like this make baby Jesus cry.
I do think that having knowledge of the Bible as a literary work is important. Countless references are made to it in both modern and classic fiction. But, for a course like that to work it has to be taught by someone without a vested interest in promoting the Bible as doctrine. Now, who could we get to do that... oh, yeah! Atheists!
Also, teaching children at a young age that the Bible and other religious texts are viewed as fiction is a good way to keep them from forming a literal dogmatic take on it. After all, we all know that nothing makes you an atheist quicker than reading the damn Bible, amirite?
Title: Re: Texas public schools require Bible this year
Post by: Squid on August 17, 2009, 02:03:02 AM
Post by: Squid on August 17, 2009, 02:03:02 AM
As far as I know it's an elective course, which I don't see a problem with. However, I think they should offer other religious texts for study in that context as well such as the Torah, the Koran, the Eddas, the Tao Te Ching, the I Ching...all of those wacky texts...Let's not stop at just one, let's offer texts for all of them. Although, that would require high school teachers to learn about those texts...........that's asking a lot of them[/sarcasm].
Title: Re: Texas public schools require Bible this year
Post by: AlP on August 17, 2009, 02:20:01 AM
Post by: AlP on August 17, 2009, 02:20:01 AM
Texas House Bill 1287 (http://www.journals.senate.state.tx.us/sjrnl/80r/pdf/80RSJ05-23-F.PDF#page=70)
I somehow linked halfway through. Scroll up a page or so to find the start of section 1.
This is my reading. It's elective. The old testament course is worth a half credit. The new testament course is worth a half credit. Schools can teach other religions; only Christianity is mandatory.
I somehow linked halfway through. Scroll up a page or so to find the start of section 1.
This is my reading. It's elective. The old testament course is worth a half credit. The new testament course is worth a half credit. Schools can teach other religions; only Christianity is mandatory.
Title: Re: Texas public schools require Bible this year
Post by: Whitney on August 17, 2009, 05:34:18 AM
Post by: Whitney on August 17, 2009, 05:34:18 AM
I don't think this is being implemented in the Dallas area schools since none of the freethinker teachers I know have complained about it.
Title: Re: Texas public schools require Bible this year
Post by: SSY on August 17, 2009, 10:43:02 AM
Post by: SSY on August 17, 2009, 10:43:02 AM
If this goes through,
*PACEFALM*
*PACEFALM*
Title: Re: Texas public schools require Bible this year
Post by: Ninteen45 on August 17, 2009, 02:28:08 PM
Post by: Ninteen45 on August 17, 2009, 02:28:08 PM
All I got to read was homer's Odyssey.
Title: Re: Texas public schools require Bible this year
Post by: Squid on August 17, 2009, 10:47:53 PM
Post by: Squid on August 17, 2009, 10:47:53 PM
Quote from: "Ninteen45"All I got to read was homer's Odyssey.
A much better and more entertaining read IMO, the Illiad was awesome too.
Title: Re: Texas public schools require Bible this year
Post by: MommaSquid on August 18, 2009, 12:20:40 AM
Post by: MommaSquid on August 18, 2009, 12:20:40 AM
I didn't retain anything from the books I was forced to read in high school. I was of the 'read the book, take the test, promptly forget about it' mind set. I know I read The Outsiders, several Shakespear stories and Animal Farm but I had to re-read them as an adult to really absorb anything. Maybe the kids who take the bible classes will have the same low level of enthusiasm as I did.
I still haven't gotten around to re-reading The Outsiders, yet. Can anyone tell me if it's worth reading?
I still haven't gotten around to re-reading The Outsiders, yet. Can anyone tell me if it's worth reading?
Title: Re: Texas public schools require Bible this year
Post by: Big Mac on August 18, 2009, 07:47:20 AM
Post by: Big Mac on August 18, 2009, 07:47:20 AM
Those books don't threaten you with burning in hell forever.
I had to read the bible in my English class in my Sophomore year. I aced the section because I was raised Pentecostal. The bible was pounded into my head since I was born. It was total bullshit but one thing hardcore fanatics are definitely a crafty bunch of folks.
I had to read the bible in my English class in my Sophomore year. I aced the section because I was raised Pentecostal. The bible was pounded into my head since I was born. It was total bullshit but one thing hardcore fanatics are definitely a crafty bunch of folks.
Title: Re: Texas public schools require Bible this year
Post by: shanster on August 18, 2009, 08:19:56 AM
Post by: shanster on August 18, 2009, 08:19:56 AM
it saddens me how nobody follows the constitution anymore 
Title: Re: Texas public schools require Bible this year
Post by: Big Mac on August 18, 2009, 08:53:22 AM
Post by: Big Mac on August 18, 2009, 08:53:22 AM
Quote from: "shanster"it saddens me how nobody follows the constitution anymore
To be fair, they're argument would probably be hard to fight in court. They strictly hold it as a literary device which sadly it is for a lot of classic pieces. Dante's Inferno, Paradise Lost, Moby Dick, The Green Mile, etc. this book is sadly a big influence on western literature.
I love Texas, I just wish we were more progressive.