In a surprise move by the Alabama State Board of Education, the first-ever Bible textbook is on the “approved” book list for Alabama’s public schools.
The surprise is not that Bible is taught as an elective course in public schools — that has been in place for more than a decade. Neither is it a surprise — even though it is a first — that a textbook was allowed to be on the state-adopted textbooks list, which means a local school system can use state funding to purchase this textbook if that system chooses to use it.
The surprise comes from the controversial history this textbook has in Alabama and the fact that board of education members did not know it was on the list of more than 5,000 books, supplements and other resources to be approved Oct. 11.
“We asked the superintendent and members of the (textbook review) committee if there was any type of controversy or any type of controversial books on the list,” said Stephanie Bell, board of education member, district 3. “The response from both was no.
“We did not anticipate any surprises,” she said. But after the board meeting, it was discovered that a committee member did know about the controversial history of the book, Bell noted.
The book gained attention in the 2006 and 2007 state legislative sessions as it was the focus of a bill designed to mandate its use as the textbook for Bible courses in the state. While the bill didn’t come up for a vote in 2007, it did in 2006 and was defeated. During the debate, many concerns with the book’s content were pointed out.
Dan Ireland of Alabama Citizens Action Program and Eunie Smith of Eagle Forum both expressed concern about aspects of the book that question God’s integrity. They were also concerned about theological issues they believe are beyond a high school student’s level of maturity.
“It might be OK for seminary students but not high school students,” Smith said.
Sheila Weber, vice president of communications for Bible Literacy Project, the organization that developed the book, noted that the book is in its second printing due to requests for changes, many coming from Alabama.
“When in the midst of the Alabama legislative process, we heard some feedback and we made some simple changes that were very helpful in the second printing,” she said. This is the edition that was submitted to the State Board of Education.
Ireland said, “The new version of the book is better than the old version … but it was a backdoor approach to get approval.” He suggests that other Bible textbooks and resources be added to the “approved” list, so there will be options.
Smith agreed. She said several schools are using material from National Council on Bible Curriculum in Public Schools. And others are using their own materials, she said.
But when it comes to “The Bible and its Influence,” Smith said it “needs more revisions if it is to reach the high view of Scripture under which Alabama Baptists would want their children taught.”
Bell added, “With a subject as important as the Bible and Christianity, we need to make sure we are dealing with the truth.”
She sees two options: pull the book from the list or add other options to the list.
“I have to have some of my procedural and content questions answered first,” Bell said, noting those questions will be asked Oct. 25.
She requested that the concerns about this textbook and the approval process that took place be addressed during an already-scheduled Oct. 25 board of education meeting. State Department of Education Superintendent Joe Morton agreed.
Morton could not be reached for comment at press time.
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