A measure encouraging South Dakota schools to provide academic instruction on the Bible won final approval Monday from the state Legislature amid criticism from some lawmakers that it could blur the line between government and religion.
The Senate voted 25-10 to pass the non-binding resolution, which has no force of law. The House passed the measure last week.
Sen. Elizabeth Kraus, R-Rapid City, said students need to learn about the Bible because it permeates culture, laws and literature. Many young people know very little about the Bible, and schools can provide instruction on it without promoting religion, she said.
"The Bible is alone in terms of its influence on Western civilization," she said.
But Sen. Tom Hansen, R-Huron, said he opposes the measure because it could get government involved in religious issues.
"I kind of follow the philosophy it's up to the state to regulate state things and it's up to the church to regulate church things," Hansen said.
The measure encourages school districts to provide instruction that makes students familiar with the content, character and narratives of the Bible. It says the instruction also should make students aware of the role the Bible has played in the development of literature, art, culture and public discourse.
In addition, the measure says the state Board of Education should include support of instruction about the Bible in its curriculum planning and should identify textbooks and other sources that outline how to teach about the Bible without violating the First Amendment guarantee of separation of church and state.
The resolution says national education groups, including the National School Boards Association, have agreed that the Bible can be taught in public schools as long as the teaching is academic, does not press students to accept religion, does not ask students to conform to any religious belief and does not encourage or discourage any religious views.
No committee hearings were held on the measure in the House or Senate. Instead, House and Senate members voted on the resolution after brief debates in each chamber.
Robert Doody, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of South Dakota, said the measure's passage was unfortunate because it does not take into account many other diverse religious texts that should be studied by students.
"Although the current Christian Bible is an important text within the western cannon, it is not the only important work, and the passage of a bill that only specifies the Christian Bible makes it look as if the real interest is in proselytizing students and not in providing for a comprehensive education in classical texts," Doody said.
But Sen. Bruce Rampelberg, R-Rapid City, said the Bible is a book of history with proven instructions for living.
"This bill is hardly even a good start in taking back the heritage of our country," Rampelberg said during the Senate debate.
Senate Democratic Leader Jason Frerichs of Wilmot said he listens to religious devotions while driving across South Dakota, but he worries that the measure does not protect teachers who might run into trouble for teaching about the Bible.
