Sunday, June 3, 2007

Regarding the May 26 editorial "Showdown in Odessa; Teaching the Bible in Texas public schools":

I teach an elective world religions class at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Fairfax County. The people I know who teach about religion in public schools know they must be scrupulous that the information they use is clear and accurate and that they do not show any religious favoritism or bias.

How the school board of Odessa, Tex., thinks it can achieve this standard using a course designed by a group of conservative Christian leaders and taught in a Bible Belt community is beyond my understanding. If Odessa is going to require all schools to offer a religion-based elective, why not either a "Great Scriptures" class that could study the scriptural bases of many religions or a world religions class to focus on major religious beliefs, including Scripture?

Understanding the history and beliefs of world religions is important for all students, especially in these times. Unfortunately, the way this is being handled in Odessa could tar more evenhanded efforts elsewhere and lead many people to decide that teaching anything about religion in public schools is too controversial. That would be sad.

JAY LAMB

Fairfax