The following is an excerpt of a press release from Redeem The Vote http://www.redeemthevote.com/, a non-profit organization working to engage America's young people of faith in the political process and educate them on issues pertinent to their lives.
ATLANTA – Three state senators announced Wednesday they have introduced legislation that would allow Georgia public high schools to offer an academic study of the Bible as an elective course.
Sen. Tim Golden (D-Valdosta), Sen. Doug Stoner (D-Smyrna) and Sen. Kasim Reed (D-Atlanta) said the proposal is designed to respect and comply with constitutional church/state issues and U.S. Supreme Court rulings. With statements of approval from Georgia’s leading religious and educational organizations, the senators are calling on a bipartisan effort to ensure adoption of the legislation during the 2006 session.
“This is an important education initiative,” said Golden, chairman of the Senate Democratic Caucus. “The Bible is the basis for much of our history, literature, music and art. It is woven into the very fabric of so many things we teach in Georgia schools.”
The proposed bill would authorize – but not require – public school systems to offer an elective course in Bible literacy in grades 9-12. The measure’s sponsors noted that with so many biblical references embedded throughout historical events, famous books and great works of art and music, a lack of biblical knowledge inhibits learning in core courses.
“It only makes sense for public schools to be able to offer a study of the Bible in an academic setting,” said Stoner, who in 2005 was named Legislator of the Year by the Georgia Association of Educators. “Under a curriculum that meets constitutional muster, schools will now have that option.”
To view the complete press release from Redeem the Vote go to http://tinyurl.com/du4pj
The New York Times http://tinyurl.com/buvb8 published an article on 01/27/06 entitled "Democrats in Two Southern States Push Bills on Bible Study." According to the New York Times, Democratic legislators in Alabama are also promoting bills to allow public school Bible courses. I applaud these legislators for taking a stand against mindless secularism and supporting the teaching of the Bible in our schools. Democrats need to embrace people of faith and show that we are not hostile to religion and moral values. The proposals in Alabama and Georgia are certainly a step in the right direction.
Sunday, January 29, 2006
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2 comments:
I read your profile on your blog and agree with you 100%. Democrats that are far left are trying to hijack the party the same way republicans on the far right have done.
Bring back Ross Perot! All joking aside, we need a move toward the center or honestly need a third party to gain more power.
Chris McElroy
More things that just piss me off
I blogged in favor of The Bible and Its Influence a few days ago. I have been interested that most of the commenters believe that public schools would take this sensible curriculum and screw it up. I believe a good idea is worth trying, even in unpromising circumstances, so I do support the bill anyway. I was taken aback by the widespread pessimism, though. You can see this at The Gruntled Center (http://gruntledcenter.blogspot.com/2006/01/hurrah-for-bible-and-its-influence.html)
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