Image Credit: TN General Assembly
The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –
On Wednesday, March 4, the Senate Education Committee advanced a bill which would allow for voluntary Bible studies and prayer times in public schools.
Seeking to remedy what sponsors have said is an incorrect interpretation of the idea of separation of church and state, SB1714 would require public schools to teach the Bible as literature in historic context and offer a dedicated time for students and staff to voluntarily gather to pray and read from religious texts.
Sen. Joey Hensley reiterated that the bill would not allow the Bible to be taught in a coercive manner or as religious dogma and that students would have the ability to opt out of the instruction with parental notification. The prayer time would also require permission from the students’ parents and is completely voluntary.
The only pushback on the bill came from Democrat Raumesh Akbari who questioned if students or staff were currently being restricted in religious expressions. “From my understanding, they can pray, they can talk about the Bible, they can discuss religion voluntarily, there’s no restriction,” she said.
Hensley responded by clarifying that the bill “would allow faculty or staff to pray openly if they opted into it, now that is prohibited in most schools. It would also allow them to use the Bible in school.” He also reiterated the prayer or reading time would not be allowed during instructional time but during a period designated by the school, primarily before or after school.
“There have been some instances where faculty or staff couldn’t [pray]. This is just to clarify that they are able to do that as they could do before the decision in 1962, we’d been doing that for the last 150 years, and this just lets that be done again in the schools,” Hensley elaborated.
SB1714 passed the committee 8-1 along party lines and will now move to the Senate Judiciary Committee at a date yet to be scheduled.
HB1491, the House companion sponsored by Rep. Gino Bulso, is set to be heard in the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, March 11.
To contact members of the committee, use the information below:
House Judiciary Committee– HB1491 to be heard March 11
HB1491 would put voluntary Bible studies and prayer times into public schools
Rep.andrew.farmer@capitol.tn.gov; rep.elaine.davis@capitol.tn.gov; rep.rebecca.alexander@capitol.tn.gov; rep.fred.atchley@capitol.tn.gov; rep.gino.bulso@capitol.tn.gov; rep.clay.doggett@capitol.tn.gov; rep.rick.eldridge@capitol.tn.gov; rep.johnny.garrett@capitol.tn.gov; Rep.ga.hardaway@capitol.tn.gov; rep.torrey.harris@capitol.tn.gov; rep.gloria.johnson@capitol.tn.gov; rep.kelly.keisling@capitol.tn.gov; rep.william.lamberth@capitol.tn.gov; rep.mary.littleton@capitol.tn.gov; rep.jason.powell@capitol.tn.gov; rep.lowell.russell@capitol.tn.gov; rep.gabby.salinas@capitol.tn.gov; rep.rick.scarbrough@capitol.tn.gov; rep.tom.stinnett@capitol.tn.gov; rep.chris.todd@capitol.tn.gov; rep.joe.towns@capitol.tn.gov; rep.ron.travis@capitol.tn.gov
Senate Judiciary Committee – SB1714 hearing date to be determined
SB1714 would put voluntary Bible studies and prayer times into public schools
Sen.todd.gardenhire@capitol.tn.gov; Sen.kerry.roberts@capitol.tn.gov; Sen.paul.rose@capitol.tn.gov; Sen.bobby.harshbarger@capitol.tn.gov; Sen.sara.kyle@capitol.tn.gov; Sen.london.lamar@capitol.tn.gov; Sen.john.stevens@capitol.tn.gov; Sen.brent.taylor@capitol.tn.gov; Sen.dawn.white@capitol.tn.gov
About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
