A report reveals it is likely that schools in Texas may once again turn to the Bible as a source of moral and spiritual guidance for the state’s youth.
Local media sites claim that the Texas Senate has passed a pair of legislation that will revive religion education in the Lone Star State’s public schools.
SB 1396 and SB 1515 were approved by the Texas Senate and will now be considered by the Texas House.
Some secular watchdog organizations are outraged by this new development, seeing it as an assault on religious freedom and a breach of the so-called separation of church and state.
The main goal of SB 1396 is to require schools to provide kids with a period each day for prayer and Bible study.
The report shows concerns about SB 1396 are unfounded since it expressly provides that each pupil or worker has the option to participate.
In addition, the bill doesn’t mandate spiritual practices like prayer and Bible reading.
Specifically, SB 1396 allows school boards to adopt a policy requiring all campuses of the district to provide pupils and staff with a chance to engage in a time of Bible reading and prayer during the school day.
The bill’s supporters insist it would restore the choice of prayer and Bible study periods to Texas classrooms, not impose them.
Senate Bill 1515 seeks to display a copy of the Ten Commandments in schools.
Even though the Supreme Court of the United States outlawed school-sponsored Bible readings and prayers in the 1960s, federal legislation nonetheless permits nondisruptive, private prayer.
According to a report, the Supreme Court sided with a public school athletics coach last summer who conducted postgame Christian prayers that were attended by players and others. Washington State dismissed coach Joseph Kennedy for refusing to quit praying despite being advised to do so by school officials.
The Supreme Court said Kennedy did not break the law when he kneeled and prayed on the football field by a vote of 6-3.
