WEST MEMPHIS, AR (abc24.com) - The Bible could be coming to Arkansas public schools. A new state bill would allow schools to add a curriculum to study the Bible. The bill has been shot down before, but many residents hope this time it passes.
You could throw a stone in West Memphis, Arkansas and where ever it lands odds are you'd find someone in support of the proposed bill to add biblical curriculum to public schools.
Katie Shaw said, "You need spiritual food for your heart, just like you need physical food for your body."
The state tried to add the legislation in 2011, but it died in committee. The new version would require a licensed teacher who could instruct only from a strictly academic standpoint.
Freedom from Religion - the same group which fought prayer at DeSoto County High School football games and crosses on a water tower in a west Tennessee town - says since the course would be an elective, the bill is technically legal.
"The Bible can be taught for its literary influence and historic influences and artistic influences," stated Freedom from Religion's Rebecca Markert. "It has to be done in an objective manner; it can't show any denominational preference."
The question is whether it can taught in an unbiased manner.
Markert replied, "I think experience has shown that it can't. There's just no reason to inject it in a public school."
Residents disagree.
"I think maybe if they did have Bible school, I think the children would be a lot better," Shaw said.
