06 LC
35 0053ER
House
Bill 1133
By:
Representatives Smith of the
168th,
Mosley of the
178th,
Sims of the
169th,
Walker of the
107th,
Carter of the
159th,
and others
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Part 2 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of
Georgia Annotated, relating to competencies and core curriculum for elementary
and secondary students under the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to provide
for the offering of state funded high school courses in the History and
Literature of the Old Testament Era and the History and Literature of the New
Testament Era; to provide for the adoption of the curricula for such courses by
the State Board of Education; to provide for the topics of instruction, reading
materials, and methods of teaching in such courses; to require certain training
for teachers of such courses; to provide for certain matters relating to the
employment and assignment of teachers of such courses; to provide for the
granting of academic credit for the successful completion of such courses; to
provide for the monitoring of the content and teaching of such courses; to
provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal
conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Part
2 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia
Annotated, relating to competencies and core curriculum for elementary and
secondary students under the "Quality Basic Education Act," is amended by adding
at the end thereof a new Code section to read as follows:
"20-2-148.
(a)
All public schools with grade nine or above may make available to eligible
students in grades nine through 12 an elective course in the History and
Literature of the Old Testament Era and an elective course in the History and
Literature of the New Testament Era. The purpose of such courses shall be to
accommodate the rights and desires of those teachers and students who wish to
teach and study the Old and New Testaments and to familiarize students with the
contents of the Old and New Testaments, the history recorded by the Old and New
Testaments, the literary style and structure of the Old and New Testaments, the
customs and cultures of the peoples and societies recorded in the Old and New
Testaments, and the influence of the Old and New Testaments upon law, history,
government, literature, art, music, customs, morals, values, and
culture.
(b)(1)
No later than July 1, 2006, the State Board of Education shall adopt a
curriculum for each course, including objectives, reading materials, and lesson
plans, which has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of this
subsection and in consultation with the Attorney General.
(2)
The topics to be included in the course in the History and Literature of the Old
Testament Era may include the historical background and events of the period;
the history of the Kingdom of Israel; the poetry of the Old Testament; the
influence of Old Testament history and literature on subsequent art, music,
literature, law, and events, including recent and current events in the Middle
East. The topics to be included in the course in the History and Literature of
the New Testament Era may include the historical background and events of the
period; the life of Jesus of Nazareth; the parables of Jesus; the life and
travels of Paul; and the influence of New Testament history and literature on
subsequent art, music, literature, law, and events.
(3)
The book or collection of books commonly known as the Old Testament shall be the
basic text for the course in the History and Literature of the Old Testament
Era, and the book or collection of books commonly known as the New Testament
shall be the basic text for the course in the History and Literature of the New
Testament Era. In addition, students may be assigned a range of reading
materials for the courses, including selections from secular historical and
cultural works and selections from other religious and cultural traditions. The
courses shall familiarize students with the customs and cultures of the times
and places referred to in the Old and New Testaments. The courses shall
familiarize the students with the methods and tools of writing at the times the
Old and New Testament books were written, the means by which they were
preserved, the languages in which they were written and into which they were
translated, and the historical and cultural events which led to the translation
of the Old and New Testaments into the English language. The local board of
education may determine which version of the Old or New Testament shall be used
as the main text or, if the local board of education does not do so, that
determination may be made by the teacher of the course. No student shall be
required to use one version as the sole text of the Old or New Testament. If a
student desires to use as the basic text a different version of the Old or New
Testament from that chosen by the local board of education or teacher, he or she
shall be permitted to do so.
(4)(A)
The courses provided for in this Code section shall:
(i)
Be taught in an objective and nondevotional manner with no attempt made to
indoctrinate the students as to either the truth or falsity of the biblical
materials or as to the correct interpretation thereof;
(ii)
Not include teaching of religious doctrine or sectarian interpretation of the
Bible; and
(iii)
Not disparage or encourage a commitment to a set of religious
beliefs.
(B)
At the discretion of the local board of education, the courses may familiarize
the students with the various theories and methods of analyzing, interpreting,
and understanding the Old and New Testaments. However, the courses shall not
attempt to coerce students to accept or reject any of these
methods.
(C)
The course shall include an emphasis on the relationship between the Bible and
each of the following: federal and state law; the structure of federal, state,
and local governments; and the United
Stateś
founding documents.
(c)
The State Board of Education shall develop training materials and offer training
programs for the teachers of the courses provided for in this Code section no
later than July 1, 2006. Such training materials and programs shall contain a
segment devoted to the freedom of religion clauses contained in the First
Amendment of the United States Constitution and the relevant United States
Supreme Court and lower court decisions interpreting these clauses.
(d)
The provisions of this chapter relating to personnel employed by local units of
administration, including without limitation certification requirements,
employment, and supervision, shall apply to persons who teach the courses
provided for in this Code section. In addition, no person shall be assigned to
teach such courses based in whole or in part on any religious test, profession
of faith or lack thereof, prior or present religious affiliation or lack of
affiliation, or criteria involving particular beliefs or lack thereof about the
Bible. Except for these requirements, the qualifications and training of
teachers shall be determined by the local boards of education.
(e)
On and after July 1, 2006, for the purpose of earning Carnegie unit curriculum
credits at the high school level, satisfactory completion of the course in the
History and Literature of the Old Testament Era shall be accepted by the State
Board of Education for one-half unit of elective credit, and satisfactory
completion of the course in the History and Literature of the New Testament Era
shall be accepted by the State Board of Education for one-half unit of elective
credit; provided, however, that such courses are taught in strict compliance
with the requirements of this Code section.
(f)
A local board of education may make such arrangements for monitoring the content
and teaching of the course in the History and Literature of the Old Testament
Era and the course in the History and Literature of the New Testament Era as it
deems appropriate.
(g)
Nothing in this Code section shall be construed to limit the authority of a
local board of education to offer courses regarding the Old Testament or the New
Testament that are not in compliance with this Code section; provided, however,
that no state funds distributed pursuant to this article shall be expended in
connection with such a course that does not meet the requirements of this Code
section.
(h)
Nothing in this Code section shall be construed to prohibit local boards of
education from offering elective courses based upon the books of other religions
or societies. In determining whether to offer such courses, the local board may
consider various factors including, but not limited to, student and parent
demand for such courses and the impact such books have had upon history and
culture."
SECTION
2.
This
Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its
becoming law without such approval.
SECTION
3.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.