Group proposing Bible elective course responds to school board member

The following is a statement issued by the group that introduced an elective Bible curriculum for Vinton County High School:

Group supporting an elective Bible curriculum for VCHS was disappointed by the action of one school board member

Members of the community presented information on a proposed Bible curriculum to the Vinton County School Board on Feb. 6. The committee felt that this information would enable the board to make an informed decision when the proposal came up for a vote in March or early April.

The Bible curriculum would be an elective course and allow students to study the Bible as history and literature. The course is made available by the National Council on Bible Curriculum in Public Schools headquartered in Greensboro, N.C.

The curriculum for the program shows a concern to convey the content of the Bible as compared to literature and history. The program is concerned with education rather than indoctrination of students. The central approach of the class is simply to study the Bible as a foundation document of society, and that approach is altogether appropriate in a comprehensive program of secular education.

Following the group’s presentation, Mr. Clint Walker read a prepared statement. Which in summary, Walker stated, “He would not support the curriculum being taught in Vinton County High School.” He said he believed “that it is the churches responsibility to teach the Bible.” Bob Barber asked Mr. Walker if he believed that by omitting the Bible as a foundation document in the founding of our nation, are the students being taught true and honest history? Mr. Walker did not answer the question. He said, “I stand on my statement.”

The committee, proposing the curriculum, further believes that students cannot begin to understand current events and what’s going on in the Middle East without being taught scripture. A well-educated person isn’t educated unless they know the Bible and its influence on history, literature, the arts and our American culture.

The presentation to the Board was made by Bob Barber, Sarah Simmons and Clyde Hall.