Bill Seeks To Curtail Teaching of 'Religious Doctrine'

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A state Republican lawmaker is proposing legislation that would ban teaching Tennessee public school students "religious doctrine" until they're in high school.

The Tennessean reports the proposal from Rep. Sheila Butt of Columbia would prohibit the teaching of anything deemed religious doctrine unless the course is taught in 10th, 11th or 12th grade.

The measure comes on the heels of complaints from some parents in several communities as to what their children are learning in middle school about Islam.

The concept of "religious doctrine" is never defined in Tennessee law. There is a reference to the concept in a portion of the law related to using the Bible in school.

The law says the Bible may be used in class, as long as the course doesn't include "teaching of religious doctrine or sectarian interpretation of the Bible or of texts from other religious or cultural traditions."

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Information from: The Tennessean, http://www.tennessean.com