Family Life

03.10.11 | Sarah Harnisch

 Arkansas lawmakers have ok'd bill to offer the Bible as an elective course. Not in college, but in every public school in the state.  The proposal, which passed by a voice vote in a House Education Committee on Tuesday, would discourage teachers from using the classroom as a pulpit. Despite that, several lawmakers voiced concern that the bill might not prevent teachers from injecting their own religious views into the classroom. During testimony this week, legislators touted the Bible as a key to understanding "western culture, American life, our laws, our values, everything," and called it the world's most accurate history book. The bill does not deal with other religious books, such as the Quran or the Torah. The measure now heads to the House for a vote.