PRINCETON, W.Va. — In the same county caught in a lawsuit over Bible classes in public elementary and middle schools, the school board is considering a high school Bible course that would meet national standards.

Amanda Aliff, the school system’s coordinator of pupil services, presented a plan to the board Tuesday night that would offer either an English or social studies elective course to high school students. The course would use the Bible as a primary source, but in a way that would meet educational and legal standards, Aliff said.

The textbook used in the course, she said, is “The Bible and Its Influence” and it is used in 625 public high schools in 43 states.

Academically, it “falls in line with what we do every day in English classes,” she said, explaining that the Bible is used as a work of literature, not only studying its historic influence but artistic and literary value as well.

“It would incorporate analysis, evaluation and critical thinking skills,” she added.

Aliff said teachers would have the textbook, an assessment program and training on how it should be taught to meet the necessary standards. Professional development would be available for teachers of the elective, including the legality of the course as well as how it should be taught.

No decision has yet been made on whether the high school course, if approved, would replace the Bible in the Schools program that is currently offered in elementary schools, and is the subject of the lawsuit filed by The Freedom From Religion Foundation.

According to the suit, the program “endorses one religion, improperly entangles public schools in religious affairs, and violates the personal consciences of nonreligious and non-Christian parents and students.”

Two parents were involved in the suit, alleging their children risked ostracism from other students if they did not participate in the Bible classes, which are optional, but have a high rate of participation, according to the lawsuit.

Elective courses using the Bible in the way Aliff proposed are not currently offered in any of Mercer County’s high schools, but she said they could be made available to all four.

“Students need eight electives to graduate,” she said, and this elective could be one they take.

Schools Superintendent Dr. Deborah S. Akers said the standards are the “overarching concept” that academic standards will be met and delivered by the course.

“To deliver those standards we are going to use the content of the Bible,” she said. “It’s very similar standards to any class.”

Akers said the textbook that will be used has been “vetted” to meet legal requirements.

The guidelines to teach the Bible in public schools are part of an opinion issued by West Virginia Attorney General Charlie Brown in 1985.

Brown wrote that the state can offer instruction “about” the Bible, treating it for its academic value as history and literature.

“This instruction must, however, neither advance nor inhibit religion … “ he wrote.

Rather, course content should study the Bible purely for its historical and literary value and classes must be taught in an objective manner, with no personal religious views brought into the classroom, Brown wrote.

The lawsuit asks the court to prohibit the Mercer County Board of Education, Mercer County Schools and Akers from “organizing, administering, or otherwise endorsing bible classes for Mercer County School students.” A decision on whether to retain the current elementary Bible classes has not yet been made. 

Boothe writes for the Bluefield, West Virginia Daily Telegraph.