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Guntersville High School explores teaching the Bible

By Barbara Czura - bio | email

MARSHALL COUNTY, AL (WAFF)-  Teaching of the Bible in high school is a trend that's on the rise. More than two dozen public schools in Alabama are already offering Bible related courses, and now a Marshall County school is exploring the idea.

Guntersville High School Principal John Richey is looking at a new elective that could be in classrooms at the school as soon as next school year. That elective is the teaching of the Bible.

Principal Richey said they are in the exploratory stages, "We sent a representative of Guntersville High School today [Thursday] to a meeting to learn of the opportunities there."

Richey said if they decided to partake in he course, the course would be not required, but would be offered to anyone interested.

"We want to always explore electives that will benefit our students and we think this has great potential," he said.

Guntersville High School isn't alone. The Alabama Department of Education said this current school year there are 26 public high schools in Alabama that offer a course with the word "bible" in the name.  

Bible as literature was first seen in the classroom in October 2007, and according to the Alabama Department of Education is on the rise.

So we asked students would they sign up for the class?  

Junior Kerrie Baker liked the idea. "I would most definitely do it next year and i'll try to encourage my friends to do it too," she said. 

Senior Landon Lovell said, "That's the whole reason the Bible is there--is to learn... it's been proven with God being taking out of school there's more problems and violence in schools today, but by putting him back in, it takes out that fact, and it makes better people in the end-- the leaders of tomorrow better people."

Guntersville Principal Richey said the next step is to meet with their superintendent. If it is a direction they chose to go, they will bring it up in front of the Guntersville Board of Education.  If they approve, Guntersville High School could sign up for the course in the 2010-2011 School Year.

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