Texas, again

[magid]

A school district in western Texas has voted to add a class on the Bible to their high school curriculum, starting in the fall of 2006. They're unsure if it will be a literature class or a history class.

Comments

[missdimple.livejournal.com]

If the motivation was all about understanding the world at large better, wouldn't a general Religion class be better?

Oh no, wait, that would just be logical. *sigh*

And it is Odessa we're talking about here...

[magid.livejournal.com]

I find it unlikely that their class will discuss even interpretations of the Bible that are not their own, much less look at other religions' sacred texts.

Though I think it's better suited for a college course, I can see reading some parts of the Bible for a literature class, or even as a supplement to an ancient history class. But having a whole class on just the Bible in a public high school is ringing far too many bells for me. Let people go to classes at their church...

[infinitehotel.livejournal.com]

FWIW, *our* high school had a class called "The Bible as Literature" which had the same course description, with pretty much the same stated purpose. A grounding in the Bible does prove useful in understanding a great deal of art and literature.

However, Wachusett wasn't in Odessa Texas, so I suspect there might have been less of a hidden agenda.

[magid.livejournal.com]

Wachusett had that? I don't have any remembrance of it. (I'm getting old, obviously).

*nod* about hidden agendas. Also, having a course describing it as literature is not like having a course that they're unsure should be a lit class.

[hrafn.livejournal.com]

In my AP English class, we read the book of Job, but I think that was the only Bible reading that came as a part of class.

But that was a rather different set of circumstances than this. "Unsure" if it will be a literature or history class? *sigh*

[ichur72.livejournal.com]

When I was in high school, we had to do a reading project in English/lit. for every six-week grading period. Our approved reading lists contained several sections of the Bible. No one ever picked those, but they were there.

[magid.livejournal.com]

I don't have a problem with that; that's obviously within a context of great works, without pushing anyone to how to interpret those works.

[ichur72.livejournal.com]

But is it clear that a particular method of interpretation will be taught? The article indicates that it will be presented as a history or lit. class, not as a religion class. Forgive me, but my hackles go up when I perceive that the Texans-as-ignorant-yokels caricature is being trotted out again ...

[ruthling.livejournal.com]

I just hope it's not a science class!

[magid.livejournal.com]

Heh. I'm pretty sure they wouldn't make it a math class...

[danger-chick.livejournal.com]

But isn't there a bunch of number theory stuff in the old testament?

[magid.livejournal.com]

Yabbut, it wouldn't be enough of the right stuff to fulfill the state standards for mathematics!

[danger-chick.livejournal.com]

True -- number theory is useless for most things in life...although M4 and I broke up over number theory.

[magid.livejournal.com]

OK, that sounds like a fascinating story (and a much better reason to break up than china patterns! (I saw a TV show with that last night.))

[danger-chick.livejournal.com]

Well, we were discussing number theory and then started talking about numbers. We both have Math undergrad educations and I have often found that mathematicians have weird relationships with numbers. Case in point, I don't trust even numbers. I was explaining to him how my even yeared years, as I was approaching my 32nd birthday, were bad, including several bad break ups that happened in even years. One thing led to another and he ended up saying "I think we will break up at the end of this year, because I don't want to move to NM." I told him, "Then why wait the year? Let's break up now."

[hyounpark.livejournal.com]

Well, between the 2 fish and 5 loaves and 12 tribes and 40 days and nights, there's plenty of math. Heck, there's an entire BOOK called Numbers.

Sample Question:

1. If you add 3 Jesuses to 2 Jesuses, how many Jesuses do you get?

A: There is only one Son of God, blasphemer!

2. If you had two of every animal on Noah's Ark, how many of each animal were on the Ark at the end of its journey?

A: Two. All of the animals practiced abstinence because they were beloved by God.

Sacreligiously,
Hyoun

[magid.livejournal.com]

2. Except that some species had 7 pairs...

1. And what do you add to get the trinity, then?

0. Lots of numbers, but not the... range of mathematical topics even TX requires.

Trinity

[queue.livejournal.com]

1 + 1 + 1 = 1

Re: Trinity

[magid.livejournal.com]

No wonder 1 is the loneliest number!

[(Anonymous)]

Which species had 7 pairs? Chapter and verse?

[magid.livejournal.com]

Breishit, aka Genesis, chapter 7, verses 2 and 3

[(Anonymous)]

Cool, thanks. I'm surprised I never noticed that.

Of course, the bees were placed in an ark-hive. Ha ha.

Moadim l'simcha.

[magid.livejournal.com]

*groan* at the pun

Moadim l'simcha.

(Do I know you?)

[(Anonymous)]

(Maybe, but probably not.)

What Would Jesus Weigh?

[prog.livejournal.com]

http://www.livejournal.com/users/jwz/473946.html

Re: What Would Jesus Weigh?

[magid.livejournal.com]

Excellent! Not only multiplication, but estimation skills, too :-)

(Really, very nicely done. Though one could say it points to the infinity of the deity...)

[estherchaya.livejournal.com]

Wait. Added to the curriculum as in "required" or as in "optional elective"... 'cause there's a bit o' difference there...

[magid.livejournal.com]

I assume an elective. But I don't know how many electives there are to fulfill whatever their requirements are.

not surprised

[dannarra.livejournal.com]

Reckon they figure the local church ain't doin' thur job good nuff.