State Sen. Judy Eason McIntyre (Dem., Tulsa) said last week she worries that a bill that is now moving through the State Legislature will be divisive.A State Senate panel advanced a measure that would allow schools to offer elective courses on the Bible.
The Senate appropriations subcommittee on education passed Senate Bill 1338 by State Sen. Tom Ivester (Dem., Elk City).
It now heads to the full State Senate appropriations committee.
State Sen. Ivester said the bill would have no fiscal impact. The courses would be offered in grades nine and above.
“It is not mandatory,” he said, “and it has to be taught as history or literature.”
State Sen. McIntyre said the country is already divided on many issues, especially in areas such as religion.
Although providing elective courses on the Bible might be informative, “it doesn’t do anything to bridge that gap,” the Tulsa Democrat said.
She said she would prefer a bill that would allow schools to offer a course on comparative religions.
But “the Bible has played a more important role in Western civilization that other books,” State Sen. Ivester said, adding that schools already can offer elective courses on the Bible.
State Sen. Cliff Aldridge (Rep., Midwest City) said the state could face lawsuits if State Sen. Ivester’s bill passes.
“Why even get into that mud pit to begin with by passing this piece of legislation if schools already have the authority?,“ he asked.
The Elk City Democrat said the measure offers a framework and guidelines for such course offerings, adding that the bill would provide “some legal cover.”
