Tennessee bill would require public schools to teach the Bible

JACKSON, Tenn. — A proposed state bill introduced earlier this year would require public schools across Tennessee to teach the Bible in a literature or history context.

House Bill 1491, formally titled the “Protecting Religious Liberty and Expression in Public Schools Act,” was introduced by state Rep. Gino Bulso (R-District 61). The bill would also establish a voluntary prayer and religious reading period for public schools and charter schools.

What the bill would require

According to Rep. Bulso, students would receive age-appropriate lessons about ancient Israel, stories from the Old and New Testaments, Jesus’s life, early Christianity, and how the Bible influenced western culture.

“We are as a state saying that the Bible is such an important part of education when taught as history and literature that it needs to be a part of any proper English language arts and social studies program,” Bulso said.

Rep. Bulso was challenged by Rep. Gloria Johnson (D-District 90) during the Civil Justice Subcommittee last month. Johnson said the state should focus more on improving student performance and that teaching the Bible would limit time dedicated to building those skills.

Johnson also raised concerns about teacher preparation on the subject matter.

“Just because you went to Sunday school as a kid or go to church does not make you an expert on the history of the Bible,” Johnson said.

Following the subcommittee vote, the bill was placed before the Judiciary Committee. The committee is expected to be in session Wednesday at noon.

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