AAARRRRGGGHHHH!

Modem Butterfly | 2006-03-27 18:28

So the state of Georgia will become the first state in the union to require schools to create classes around the Bible, New and Old Testament. Not content with it's perennially abysmal educational rankings, the Georgia legislature considers the word of the LARD to be more important than such impractical and useless subjects as Geography, Spanish, and Sex Ed. Apparently, our state legislature has forgotten that Georgia has a ridiculously high rate of church attendance (probably has something to do with the appalling ignorance people seemed inclined to accept around here), and decided that Sundays and Wednesday nights just aren't good enough, gol durn it! (Wednesday night is widely considered "church night" among the Xians- it's a night of Bible studies and other additional church activities).

Opportunities to read the Bible are more pervasive in Georgia than mosquitoes in July. As an adult atheist I have quite a bit more control over my environment than a high school student, and I find myself being assaulted constantly with the Bible, through quotations, near-compulsory prayers, exhortations and legislation. Life in Georgia is one great big on-going Bible study. I can't imagine life as a non-Xian high school teenager NOW, let alone when this bullshit is passed (and you just know it will be passed).

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realisticphish (not verified) | 2006-03-27 18:44 | Damn

Hell, I AM Christian, and I would freaking hate to take Bible classes in school. This is, of course, a semi-gross violation of Constitutional rights. I say semi-gross, because it would, as I understand it, be a voluntary course. But makes no sense to require a class on THE BIBLE. A comparitive religion course? Sure. But requiring schools to offer Bible studies, but not Koran or Torah studies, is definately unconstitutional

procrastinate later | 2006-03-27 19:13 | My head hurts

It sounds like creationism through the back-door. Although the article says the programme is voluntary, but to what extent will pressure be exerted on students to select the 'right' class? Will it be outright bullying or coercision with a nod and a wink? In any fundamentalist atmosphere such pressures are the norm. I conjecture that the state legislators know fully well that this is a way to sneak creationism into schools by describing the terms of its presence in a manner which could get around state and religious separation.

tng | 2006-03-27 19:42 | Well, as a Brit

You've never had any experience with U.S. high school Guidance Counselors I don't think. Do the U.K. schools have something similar? Guidance Counselors are in a position to exert an inordinate amount of influence on what classes a kid takes. My guidance counselor certainly wasn't above using guilt. Except in this case I could see that guilt trip being used not to encourage a student to take Calculus but rather Bible Study. Then there's peer pressure...

Is this the Democratic Party sponsored legislation? (tng being too lazy click a link or look it up)

procrastinate later | 2006-03-28 03:33 | We didn't have guidance counsellors

At age 14 each student fills in a form to select which classes they want to take for their final two years (but Maths, Science, English, English Literature, Modern Foreign Languages all mandatory). We could select maybe three options of our own choosing. I don't remember any advice being offered.

Goblinmonger | 2006-04-01 22:40 | I'm sure the classes will be open

and treat the Bible like any other mythological literature. Eye-wink

Why can't theists be happy to have their beliefs and friends with similar beliefs? Why do they need to make sure that the whole of society is in lock-step with them in order to be happy? Why can't they just leave me alone?

AAARRRRGGGHHHH!

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