The Bible textbook that made history in Alabama and caused a media frenzy all in the same week remains the only book of its kind on the state-adopted textbooks list.
Approved by the Alabama State Board of Education Oct. 11 as one of 2,500 books on the list, “The Bible and Its Influence” will stay, said State Department of Education Superintendent Joe Morton. And with that decision, it becomes the first Bible textbook to ever be placed on the list, which means a local school system can use state funding to purchase the textbook if that system chooses to use it.
“I did not know it was on the list. I don’t think any board member knew it was on the list but [the list] passed unanimously,” Morton said Oct. 25 during a discussion on the book with the eight-member board of education.
The discussion, which took place during an already-scheduled work session, came after some board of education members expressed concern about the book.
The book has a history of controversy in Alabama, making its first appearance in the 2005 legislative session. It became the focus of legislation designed to mandate its use as the official textbook for Bible courses in the state. With that move, several Christian groups, including Alabama Citizens Action Program (ALCAP) and Eagle Forum, took a strong interest in the book. The first edition of the book was strongly rejected by these groups and changes were made by the publisher.
While concerns still exist over some content in the book, the legislation was defeated mainly because it would have mandated the use of only this textbook.
Dan Ireland, executive director of ALCAP, said textbooks should be approved by the board of education, not the Legislature.
An official from the Bible Literacy Project, the company that developed “The Bible and Its Influence,” said it heard this request and submitted the second edition to the board of education for review.
But with its controversial history, some board members contend they should have been alerted to its placement on the list. An official in the office of classroom improvements, textbooks said no one on the review committee flagged the book or indicated any concern about the book. So when the board asked if there were any books of concern, a no answer was given.
“It should remain as is,” Morton said, noting that proper procedures were followed. But he did offer a way for other Bible textbook publishers to try for the list.
January 2007 was the original submission period for the literature category, which is where the Bible textbook falls, but Morton suggested opening the category up again for the January 2008 period.
This would allow other publishers of Bible textbooks not to have to wait for the cycle to repeat in six years, he explained. Morton also emphasized any book publisher wanting to be considered for the literature category would be welcome to be reviewed.
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