Many ACLU-types have expressed a knee-jerk negative reaction to Oklahoma's requiring that the Bible be taught in public schools. We are never surprised by pin-heads not caring to actually look at the facts underlying any supposed issue, in this instance the guidelines that are to be followed. Thus, if Oklahoma schools would honestly teach what the guidelines say is be taught, their students will get a real education. In upper elementary school, guidelines include "Discuss the elements of a story, such as plot, characters, and setting." Questions such as: In the story of Lot's wife or of the flood, who is the "good guy" and who is the "bad guy?" are natural considerations of character. In middle school, students should "Compare biblical stories with myths and legends from other cultures," which would lead to learning that many stories from the Bible are taken from earlier pagan stories so they cannot be believed or taken literally. In High School, students should "Study primary historical documents and speeches that reference the Bible," such as an 1835 article from the Charleston Mercury explaining how the Bible justifies slavery or Pope Urban's 1095 speech launching the first Crusade. They should also read "essays that require critical thinking and analysis of the Bible's role in literature, history and culture." Likely that would include books like The Good Book, in which the Reverend Peter Gomes, Plummer Professor of Christian Morals at Harvard, explains how the Bible does not condemn homosexuality.
[EOP]
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