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A yearlong investigation by the Austin-based Texas Freedom Network found that the majority of Bible courses offered as electives in the state's high schools are devotional and sectarian in nature and not academic, as required by a host of rulings from the U.S. Supreme Court on down.

"With a few notable exceptions, the public school courses currently taught in Texas often fail to meet minimal academic standards for teacher qualifications; curriculum, and academic rigor; promote one faith perspective over all others; and push an ideological agenda that is hostile to religious freedom, science and public education," states the study, which will be made public today.

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Among the findings:

•The vast majority of Texas Bible courses, despite their titles, do not teach about the Bible in a historical or literary context, as required under state law. Instead, the electives tend to be explicitly devotional in nature and reflect an almost exclusively Christian (usually Protestant) perspective.
•The Bible is often presented as being divinely inspired and biblical stories treated as literal history.
•Most Bible courses in Texas are taught by teachers who have no academic training in biblical, religious or theological studies and, it appears, little familiarity with separation of church-state issues. Some districts bring in local clergy to teach their Bible courses and fund them with private money.

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Originally posted by HalfMooner
Won't somebody think of the poor, persecuted, tax-funded Christian teachers and school boards?

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What hogwash! Next, someone else with an axe to grind will release an "investigation" claiming that classes teaching Intelligent Design are "unscientific." What's next? Encouraging students not to stone classmates they think are gay? This is a slippery slope, folks!

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