LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) The Arkansas House has approved a bill that requires public schools to offer an elective course on the Bible if students request one.The bill approved by the House by a 64-7 vote Tuesday would require a public school to offer the academic study of the Bible if at least 15 students request one. Under the proposal, the course would be taught in a “nondevotional manner with no attempt made to indoctrinate students.”
The 64 voting in favor of the measure included Representatiaves Nelda Speaks of Mountain Home, Jack Fortner of Yellville, John Payton of Wilburn and Marsh Davis of Cherokee Village. The fifth member of the North Central delegation, Representative Michelle Gray of Melbourne, was among 23 not voting on the measure.
A 2013 Arkansas law allows public schools to offer an elective course on the Bible but doesn’t require them to do so. The measure now heads to the Senate.
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