Ed Brayton is a freelance writer and speaker. He is the co-founder and president of 
Craig County High School in rural Virginia has decided to use the NCBCPS curriculum for an elective Bible course. And predictably, those who advocated it ducked right into the Lemon test punch:
Several county residents spoke about the need to have God in school."Satan is here in Craig County High School," said former Craig County School Board member Fay Powers. She added, "We fight Satan every day."
Two more pastors weighed in. "We can teach the philosophy of evolution, but not the Bible" in school, noted the Rev. Morris. Jerry King, a retired pastor, said he "would be surprised if this county turned it [the class] down, when we know the end is near."
This really is a big advantage for our side in these church/state battles. No matter how much the more media-savvy religious right leaders pretend that their goals are purely pedagogical, their followers know that it's really about endorsing Christianity and no amount of pretense can prevent them from saying so. And then there's this:
Craig County High School freshman Cody Rader gave an impassioned speech detailing his feelings and thoughts about having the Bible in school. "The law says we can do this," he said, lamenting having to listen to the theory of evolution, while not believing it.After praising history teacher John Crenshaw for his teaching by saying, "Praise the Lord for him," Rader then pleaded with the board to consider the request. "The students want this course, and that should be the ultimate deciding factor," he said.
Really? Whatever the students want to be taught should be the "ultimate deciding factor"? By what possible logic?
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Students set the school curriculum?
Damn! if only I have known I would have voted for 6 classes of sex ed practicals per day. :)
Posted by: DingoJack | May 17, 2008 9:45 AM
I have never understood why they want these kinds of courses in the classroom. If God is such an important part of their lives, why are they willing to let a public school teacher teach their kids about it? Wouldn't you want your child's religious learning to come only from you and your church?
Posted by: Cindy | May 17, 2008 9:56 AM
Or how 'bout classes on Santa Claus.
Yes Virginia there is a Santa Claus!.
I really need to know:
a)Does the former board member have a sister called Gay?
b)Does this former board member know which is Satan's homeroom?
c)Does Satan eat at the cafeteria, or does he have to get food from Hell's Kitchen.
etc etc etc
Risible, totally risible -DJ
Posted by: DingoJack | May 17, 2008 9:58 AM
Cindy, the idea (for these people) isn't for Christians to hear about the Bible in school - presumably many, if not most, of them go to church - but to influence students who don't attend church. As such, they'd like as many children to have exposure to the Bible as possible. I think Bible education (in the sense of literary understanding) is a good idea, and I think the curriculum itself and the intent to endorse the Bible in the classroom are what makes this a recipe for disaster (not to mention litigation).
Posted by: The Christian Cynic | May 17, 2008 10:16 AM
Just lucky America doesn't have the Chaser Team, they'd have a field day with this one. I can just imagine them turning up at Craig County High School in a Satan costume and claiming thier substitue teachers. - DJ
No idea what I'm talking about? Watch this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdnAaQ0n5-8
Posted by: DingoJack | May 17, 2008 10:28 AM
I agree that having the Bible as part of a literary curriculum is important. My daughter studied it this year in her high school English course.
But these Bible courses they are proposing are electives, not required. So, do the proponents really think they will get many students who are not Christian church-goers in these classes?
I don't think so. Which brings me back to my original point of: do your religious edumacating at home and church!
Posted by: Cindy | May 17, 2008 10:29 AM
The Satan thing is really not that big a deal, he's on the Guidance Counselor staff He's also in charge of teh Gay Agenda for the school system.
Posted by: kehrsam | May 17, 2008 10:37 AM
I missed the part about this being an elective Bible course - that really doesn't make much sense to me, except as a power play to push the endorsement of Christianity into the schools. At the risk of stating the obvious, I get the impression that a lot of these issues are concerned primarily with Christians exerting what power they can over the schools to create the illusion that Christianity still holds sway over the people as an ideology. As a Christian, I highly disapprove.
Posted by: The Christian Cynic | May 17, 2008 10:39 AM
When I was refering to the Chaser Team above I, of course, meant "Satan Costumes". Or, on second thoughts, maybe not :D -DJ
Posted by: DingoJack | May 17, 2008 10:50 AM
except as a power play to push the endorsement of Christianity into the schools.
Bingo! The fuss out here in Odessa, Texas looked much the same. And this one will crash and burn, too.
Posted by: Coragyps | May 17, 2008 11:29 AM
I'd love to teach about the bible. I could start with comparisons to other Near/Middle Eastern mythologies, get into mystery cults and the effects of Hellenization on Roman Palestine, discuss recent archaeology on Israelite origins, maybe touch linguistics (the alma-bethulah "controversy", if you will). Somehow, I doubt the religious rabid would want me teaching their kids, though, but they would get an education and a push towards critical thinking.
Posted by: Badger3k | May 17, 2008 2:51 PM
So tell me avout The "alma-bethulah controversy". I live on this stuff. -DJ
Posted by: DingoJAck | May 17, 2008 4:28 PM
I think that offering classes like these as electives is just like "voluntary" school-led prayer or bible readings. The students can opt out but there will be great pressure on them not to. There will also be some naive people who will believe that the classes are religiously-neutral and will take the classes or allow their children to take the them.
Posted by: wrpd | May 17, 2008 6:55 PM
DJ - Perhaps Satan eats at Hell Pizza?
In any case the whole idea of fighting Satan with Bible courses is ridiculous. As every intelligent observer knows the only way to beat Satan is with a fiddle contest.
Posted by: James K | May 18, 2008 1:20 AM
James K - LOL. Well, in NZ, it seems, pretty much anywhere is a hellhole. ;) -DJ
Posted by: DingoJack | May 18, 2008 1:37 AM
Short story: one word means virgin, the other means young woman.
Posted by: khan | May 18, 2008 2:17 PM
But these Bible courses they are proposing are electives, not required. So, do the proponents really think they will get many students who are not Christian church-goers in these classes?
I don't think so...
Cindy,
It's easier to get an elective approved and then gradually make it a requirement than to go straight for a major change in curriculum. One method that could follow in this scenario is to get the elective in place and then claim that it is a literature class and therefore should replace an existing English class. Also they could claim that it is an important "comparative religions" class and make it a graduation requirement. Once it is in place, it isn't that difficult to make it a required course, especially given that not that many people even pretend to be interested in what school boards do 99% of the time.
Posted by: dogmeatib | May 18, 2008 3:55 PM
James K
Good to see that they know the correct spelling for Rotorua. I suppose it even has the right smell.
Posted by: Malcolm | May 18, 2008 9:09 PM
They are trying to pass the same law here in Knoxville. I personally think it it a double edged sword for xtians. What happens when a student asks some of the really tough (and obvious) questions. I was taught growing up not to question the Bible. That works pretty well in a church setting but not in a classroom. How will the hard core xtian students react when a question is raised that the teacher cannot answer?
As far as being pressured by classmates to take an elective, My oldest just signed up for all her high school classes. There are so many electives and by the time she took english, math, science and history that were required, she had 4 slots available for electives. She signed up for orchestra, art, keyboarding (typing for us old folks) and a foriegn language. there are so many electives to choose. Heck, even gym is an elective these days. The other students have no knowledge of what you sign up for until fall comes around. I just dont see peer pressure factoring in very much. I could easily see even a religous student prefering to take wood shop or Spanish or what have you - maybe not band (cheapo shot at band, I know) over a bible course just because of the time conastaints (unless it is forced upon them by a parent).
Posted by: mr_p | May 19, 2008 9:23 AM
"...the idea (for these people) isn't for Christians to hear about the Bible in school - presumably many, if not most, of them go to church - but to influence students who don't attend church."
I disagree. I would say the motivation is both to dominate the non-believers as well as keep their own kids cowed and stupid.
Posted by: bullet | May 19, 2008 5:57 PM
The "philosophy" of evolution? Gimme a break!
Posted by: themadlolscientist | May 22, 2008 5:36 PM
"Satan is here in Craig County High School," said former Craig County School Board member Fay Powers. She added, "We fight Satan every day."
Does the major city in this county happen to be named "Sunnydale"?
Posted by: Coin | May 22, 2008 5:50 PM
"Satan is here in Craig County High School," said former Craig County School Board member Fay Powers. She added, "We fight Satan every day."
Does the major city in this county happen to be named "Sunnydale"?"
There is no major city in Craig. We have ~5,200 people spread over ~350 sq. miles...1 Elementary School...1 High School...720 kids K-12...all under one roof. We're about 90% Protestant...~5% Catholic...~5% "Could care less"
Mostly tiny, Baptist, Methodist, and Church of Christ Country Churches...
The closest city is Roanoke,VA, about an hour away.
Posted by: CCHS Grad05 | June 17, 2008 4:57 PM