In responses to UFI’s poll question, “In public schools, is it appropriate for the bible and other significant religious text to be available and used as an educational resource?” 90% of our blog readers said “Yes!” But that won’t be happening if federal judges have anything to say about it as shown in the story below.
Federal Court says “No” to use of Bible in Charter School
In another chapter in the controversy surrounding a charter school’s desire to use the Bible as a historical text, a federal court has said “no.” A federal judge has dismissed Nampa Classical Academy’s lawsuit challenging the Idaho Public Charter School Commission’s ban on the use of religious texts in its curriculum.
Isaac Moffett, the academy founder continues to insist that the Bible will be used only as one of many religious texts – including the Quran and the writings of Confucius – to instruct students in history and literature and that there is no plan to indoctrinate children in any religious faith.
“The U.S. Supreme Court has held in many cases that public schools may teach about religion, including the Bible or other Scripture… The Court has also held that public schools may use the Bible in the study of history, civilization, ethics, comparative religion or the like.”
Moffett plans to teach, for example, Latin and Western civilization using the Bible as a historical and literary text.
Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) who represents the Academy is now looking into all options available for the appeal of the federal judge’s dismissal of the case.
“Censoring books, including religious books, is not the proper way to educate children,” said ADF Senior Legal Counsel David Cortman. “Children deserve a complete education, which is what Nampa Classical Academy provides. Moreover, the court’s opinion requiring the removal of religious books to comply with the so-called ‘separation of church and state’ conflicts with established U.S. Supreme Court precedent stating that ‘the Bible may constitutionally be used in an appropriate study of history, civilization, ethics, comparative religion, or the like.’”
David Cortman went on to state that curriculum chosen by the Nampa Classical Academy falls within the U.S. Supreme Court standards for acceptable and constitutional. Cortman feels confident: “If we proceed with appeal, we trust the decision will be reversed.”
The vast majority of United Families International readers agree with the Academy and with ADF that the Bible should be available for use as an educational and historical resource.
For more information on this topic visit the National Council on Bible Curriculum in Public Schools