c. 1998 Religion News Service

UNDATED _ A controversial Bible history class based on the Old Testament has been introduced in Lee County, Fla., public high schools following a ruling by a federal judge that the course could begin.

The course was a target of a suit by church-state separationists.

Wayne Perry, public information officer for the School District of Lee County, said 153 students at seven of the district’s eight high schools are enrolled in the classes. The eighth school did not have enough students registered to offer it there.

The classes began after U.S. District Judge Elizabeth Kovachevich decided Jan. 20 to allow the first of two courses, which covers the Old Testament, to be taught.

But the judge questioned whether the second course, which includes the New Testament teachings on miracles and the Resurrection, can be taught as secular history. She continued an injunction blocking the course.

Perry said the first course was created by a committee of district curriculum staff and community members and the second course was developed by the National Council on Bible Curriculum in Public Schools, a private group based in North Carolina.”Our in-house staff is happy that their course work was not enjoined and has been given a green light,”Perry said.”We’ve all along said it’s educationally sound.” As for the New Testament course, Perry added:”There are references to certain parts of Christ’s life that are arguably religion versus history and I think that’s why the injunction stood in that case.” The school board, which is based in Fort Myers, is scheduled to meet with lawyers Feb. 4 to discuss its options concerning the injunction. They include appealing the decision, canceling the second course, reworking the course or having the district create its own version of a New Testament course.”We’re all kind of waiting on the board to decide what their legal strategy is,”said Perry.

The New Testament classes are not scheduled to begin until March.

Meanwhile, the Old Testament classes, which began Jan. 22, are being videotaped to allow plaintiffs in an ongoing lawsuit to see how the instruction is handled.

In December, People for the American Way, the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida and the Florida law firm of Steel Hector & Davis sued the school on behalf of parents and other county residents. The American Center for Law and Justice, an organization founded by religious broadcaster Pat Robertson, is representing the school board.”We are delighted that the court has cleared the way for the first phase of their Bible curriculum to be taught in Florida,”said Jay Sekulow, chief counsel of the ACLJ in a statement.”As we have said all along, we believe the entire Bible curriculum adopted by the Lee County School Board is constitutional and we remain committed to defending the constitutionality of this curriculum.” At the same time, People For officials said they were pleased the judge blocked the New Testament course.”We would hope that the school district will take the judge up on her invitation and will work with us to develop a proper curriculum that passes constitutional muster, rather than requiring the continuation of costly, divisive and time-consuming litigation,”said Elliot Mincberg, People For’s legal director.

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