Cape High Bible class proponents address school board

Discussion on a proposed Bible class for Cape Henlopen High School continued July 11 as school board members heard support for the class.

The support was a contrast to a district presentation at the last meeting in which Director of Curriculum and Instruction Mike Kelley shared teacher concerns that the class would be difficult to teach objectively.

School board member Sandi Minard said she respects the district position, but she said there is community interest in the program.

"If there is an interest in our community for an elective item, we need to consider it," she said.

Minard was joined by Cape Henlopen School District resident Betsy Glover, who said the textbook is an informative and safe literary study of the Bible.

"An educated person needs to know about the Bible," she said. "It's a great course. If Cape does it, it would be the first school in the state."

Nixie Laremore of the Delaware Family Council said she intends to visit other school board meetings to promote the Bible Literacy Project.

"The message of the Bible is morally inspiring to your students," she said.

She said children need to know about the Bible because much of the nation's history and many holidays and heroes are connected to it.

"This would be just connecting the dots," she said.

She compared the Bible course to an elective on the 1960s offered to high school students.

"Look at it like the '60s class times 100," she said.

Laremore said the Bible textbook and curriculum have never been challenged in court, and she does not believe it would be. Kelley made a similar statement during his presentation rejecting the class.

Laremore said the district could face legal problems regarding First Amendment rights if it refuses to offer the class.

Newly elected board President Spencer Brittingham - Roni Posner was elected vice president - said the Bible Literacy Project would be placed on the agenda for a vote at the next school board meeting Thursady, July 25.

"Next meeting we'll have a yay or a nay on the Bible Literacy Project," he said.

In other business, the board unanimously approved the simulcast of the Metropolitan Opera for the Cape Henlopen theater. The simulcasts will run for 10 Saturdays through 2014.