Idaho Governor Vetoes Bill Permitting Bible as Reference in Public Schools
ICC Note: Governor Butch Otter of Idaho has vetoed a bill which would have allowed public schools to use the Bible for reference purposes. Although the bill specified that no students would be required to use religious texts as part of their assignments, Otter expressed that moving forward with the bill would be “a direct contravention to the Idaho Constitution,” and would likely result in a lawsuit which would threaten funding for the school systems. Prior to the veto, the bill passed in the Senate with a 31-3 vote.
By Heather Clark
04/12/2016 United States (Christian News Network) – The Republican governor of Idaho has vetoed a bill that would permit the Bible to be used for reference purposes in public school classrooms out of concern that it could result in a lawsuit.
“I have deep respect and appreciation for the Bible as religious doctrine as well as a piece of historic literature,” Gov. Butch Otter wrote in a letter accompanying the veto. “However, allowing S1342 to become law is a direct contravention to the Idaho Constitution and it could result for the loss of funding and costly litigation for Idaho public schools.”
As previously reported, S.B. 1342 was introduced earlier this year by the Senate Education Committee at the urging of Sen. Cheryl Nuxoll, R-Cottonwood, who also works as a high school teacher.
“The Bible is expressly permitted to be used in Idaho public schools for reference purposes to further the study of literature, comparative religion, English and foreign languages, United States and world history, comparative government, law, philosophy, ethics, astronomy, biology, geology, world geography, archaeology, music, sociology, and other topics of study where an understanding of the Bible may be useful or relevant,” the bill read as introduced.
It also noted that “[n]o student will be required to use any religious texts for reference purposes if the student or parents of the student object.”
The Committee later agreed unanimously to add a clarifier to the bill to outline that it also applies to other religious literature, and also to strike “astronomy, biology, geology” from the text of the proposal so that it cannot be interpreted as allowing the teaching of Creation in public school.