Senators approved requiring public school classrooms to display a Revolutionary-era Bible — known as the Aitken Bible — as a resource while teaching social studies.
The Aitken Bible was the first English-language translation of the Bible printed in the United States in 1782. It is known as the “Bible of the Revolution.”
“This Bible is the foundational, American historical document presented during the Revolutionary era, and it’s referenced in the study of early American culture, literacy and political thought,” said Sen. Jack Woodrum, R-Summers, who spoke in favor of the bill Thursday.
Senate Bill 388 would require the Aitken Bible to be displayed in fourth, eighth and 10th grade public school and charter school classrooms where students are taught about the American Revolution.
The measure doesn’t mandate that teachers use it during instruction.
“When teachers use a Bible in class as a historical object or resource, it is similar to using other documents from the founding of America, like the Declaration of Independence or speeches by George Washington or even Abraham Lincoln,” said bill sponsor Sen. Amy Grady, R-Mason. “It is not used to teach religion or get students to believe anything.”
Grady is a fourth grade teacher at a public school. She already has the Aitken Bible available as a resource to her students, she said, which is currently permitted without this bill.
The measure “doesn’t force religious practices beliefs on anyone,” she said. “It helps students understand why ideas and values were important when this country was formed.”
The Senate voted down an amendment on Wednesday from Minority Leader Mike Woelfel, D-Cabell, that would have made schools also include the Catholic Bible in classrooms as a resource.
“I think the Senate missed an opportunity yesterday to tell a much broader and larger part of the American Revolution and the first couple of years of the founding of the United States, the ratification of the Constitution and early years of Washington’s first presidency,” said Sen. Ryan Weld, R-Ohio, who voted against the measure.
The measure passed the Senate with a vote of 30-4 and was sent to the House of Delegates for consideration.
Woelfel voted against the measure, saying it didn’t have enough guardrails to prevent the Bibles from being used to introduce religion into classroom lessons.
“I have a firm belief that when we deal with matters of faith that instruction be carried out by the family, faith leaders or our private schools, our parochial schools, by our educators in those schools,” Woelfel said. “I think we’re opening up Pandora’s box.”
Public funds are prohibited from being used to purchase the Aitken Bible, according to the measure, but schools could accept and use private donations for the Bibles to fulfill the bill’s mandate.
This article originally appeared on West Virginia Watch.
West Virginia Watch is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. West Virginia Watch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Leann Ray for questions: info@westvirginiawatch.com.
