Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-11-103.11
This is the official text of Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-11-103.11, part of Oklahoma’s Stat. tit. 70, — part of the compiled statutory law of Oklahoma, published by the state as "Stat. tit. 70,." Browse the sections below, each linked to its official government source.
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Elective course offering on Old and New Testament
Official statutory text
A. A school district may offer to students in grade nine or
above:
1. An elective course on the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament)
and its impact and an elective course on the New Testament and its
impact; or
2. An elective course that combines the courses described in
paragraph 1 of this subsection.
B. The purposes of courses authorized by this section are to:
1. Teach students knowledge of biblical content, characters,
poetry, and narratives that are prerequisites to understanding
contemporary society and culture, including literature, art, music,
mores, oratory, and public policy; and
2. Familiarize students with, as applicable:
a. the contents of the Hebrew Scriptures or New
Testament,
b. the history of the Hebrew Scriptures or New Testament,
c. the literary style and structure of the Hebrew
Scriptures or New Testament, and
Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 591
d. the influence of the Hebrew Scriptures or New
Testament on law, history, government, literature,
art, music, customs, morals, values, and culture.
C. The Bible shall be the primary text of the course and may be
supplemented with additional resources. The primary text for the
course will be a parallel translation Bible or multi-translation
Bible that uses more than one translation for side-by-side
comparison chosen by the school district. However, a student may
not be required to use a specific translation as the sole text of
the Hebrew Scriptures or New Testament and may use as the basic
textbook a different translation of the Hebrew Scriptures or New
Testament from that chosen by the district board of education or the
student’s teacher.
D. A course offered pursuant to this section shall follow
applicable law and all federal and state guidelines in maintaining
religious neutrality and accommodating the diverse religious views,
traditions, and perspectives of students in the school district. A
course offered pursuant to this section shall not endorse, favor, or
promote, or disfavor or show hostility toward, any particular
religion or nonreligious faith or religious perspective. Nothing in
this section is intended to violate any provision of the United
States Constitution or federal law, the Oklahoma Constitution or any
state law, or any rules or guidelines provided by the United States
Department of Education or the State Department of Education.
E. A teacher of a course offered pursuant to this section must
be certified to teach social studies or literature.
above:
1. An elective course on the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament)
and its impact and an elective course on the New Testament and its
impact; or
2. An elective course that combines the courses described in
paragraph 1 of this subsection.
B. The purposes of courses authorized by this section are to:
1. Teach students knowledge of biblical content, characters,
poetry, and narratives that are prerequisites to understanding
contemporary society and culture, including literature, art, music,
mores, oratory, and public policy; and
2. Familiarize students with, as applicable:
a. the contents of the Hebrew Scriptures or New
Testament,
b. the history of the Hebrew Scriptures or New Testament,
c. the literary style and structure of the Hebrew
Scriptures or New Testament, and
Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 591
d. the influence of the Hebrew Scriptures or New
Testament on law, history, government, literature,
art, music, customs, morals, values, and culture.
C. The Bible shall be the primary text of the course and may be
supplemented with additional resources. The primary text for the
course will be a parallel translation Bible or multi-translation
Bible that uses more than one translation for side-by-side
comparison chosen by the school district. However, a student may
not be required to use a specific translation as the sole text of
the Hebrew Scriptures or New Testament and may use as the basic
textbook a different translation of the Hebrew Scriptures or New
Testament from that chosen by the district board of education or the
student’s teacher.
D. A course offered pursuant to this section shall follow
applicable law and all federal and state guidelines in maintaining
religious neutrality and accommodating the diverse religious views,
traditions, and perspectives of students in the school district. A
course offered pursuant to this section shall not endorse, favor, or
promote, or disfavor or show hostility toward, any particular
religion or nonreligious faith or religious perspective. Nothing in
this section is intended to violate any provision of the United
States Constitution or federal law, the Oklahoma Constitution or any
state law, or any rules or guidelines provided by the United States
Department of Education or the State Department of Education.
E. A teacher of a course offered pursuant to this section must
be certified to teach social studies or literature.
Status: in_force · Read it on the official government site
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