NASHVILLE – A bill barring Tennessee public schools from engaging in “indoctrination” or proselytizing while teaching students about world religions, including Islam, is on its way to Gov. Bill Haslam after state senators approved the measure.
Senators also took final action and sent to Haslam yet another education bill. It creates an A-F school rating system for all public schools, much like the ones their students are awarded.
The indoctrination bill, sponsored by Sen. Mike Bell, R-Riceville, passed 29-1 despite concerns voiced by Minority Leader Lee Harris, D-Memphis, that school boards won’t have time to develop policies that include making all instructional material available for public review.
An exterior view of the Tennessee State Capitol building.It was previously passed by the House 82-2 last month.
The bill requires school boards to set guidelines on how religions are taught in school. It also requires schools and teachers to make available to the public the class syllabus of materials used in the class.
Bell said the bill would apply to materials taught in the 2016-2017 school term that begins this fall. Because the bill takes effect immediately upon becoming law, state and local officials will be able to begin planning quickly. That is, if Haslam doesn’t veto it.
Rep. Matthew Hill, R-Jonesborough, introduced the bill after an uproar among some Christian religious conservatives over how religion is taught in public schools.
Concerns focused on 6th and 7th graders who take world history with a curriculum that addresses the rise of Islamic civilization. Critics charged it included indoctrination on Islam and they also complained courses presented Islam as a peaceful religion, with which they disagreed.
The A-F rating school rating system bill was sent to Haslam after senators voted 30-0 to accept a House amendment on the bill, which was previously passed by both chambers.
The amendment directs the grading scale be developed by Tennessee Department of Education officials as opposed to the Tennessee Board of Education. If Haslam signs the measure, the grading system would be implemented before the start of the 2017-2018 school year. The grades would be shown on the state’s annual report cards.
Proponents say it would provide an easy-to-understand measurement for parents. But critics say the letter grades will oversimplify how well or badly individual schools are doing and lead to unfair stigmatization.
Contact staff writer Andy Sher at 615-255-0550 or asher@timesfreepress.com.