With some preaching scripture, others preaching the constitution, andsome doing both, the fight is on. One Florida school district has adoptedwhat's known as the "North Carolina Curriculum". It's a Bible Studiescurriculum that was developed in Greensboro that teaches students aboutboth the Bible and its place in history. You may be surprised to findthere are similar courses in schools all across our state.
Vinetta Bell is an English teacher at Enloe High School who helpedwrite Wake County's curriculum for two specialized courses -- "The Biblein History" and "Religions in World Culture".
Assistant School Superintendent Sue King says Wake County's coursesteach the Bible in a historical context and educate students about allmajor religions.
It's not just being taught in Wake County. Several school districtsacross North Carolina include the Bible when teaching religion, history,and literature. Deborah Ross is with the American Civil Liberties Union.She says what the ACLU opposes is the teaching of religious doctrine orbelief. She says it has no quarrel with teaching the Bible as history.
Wake County school leaders say their teachers are not there toindoctrinate students, but, rather educate them about the role of religionin history. Bell agrees with that statement.
Most of these courses are elective, not mandatory. Parents should get acopy of the curriculum, so you can see what's being taught.As for the curriculum adopted in Florida, the ACLU here says it had noproblem with it.
Photographer:Ron Pittman
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