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ACLU-KY Review Identifies Possible Legal Issues with McCracken Co. Schools ‘Bible Literacy’ Classes

via aclu-ky.org, cropped

McCracken County Public Schools is listed among a handful of districts in Kentucky the American Civil Liberties Union says offers ‘Bible literacy’ courses that may violate the Constitution.

The Kentucky ACLU says an investigationfound public school teachers in McCracken County “using the Bible to impart religious life lessons” and in McCracken lessons that included “rote memorization of Biblical text.”

The ACLU sent requests to all of the state’s 173 school districts seeking policies and curriculum for Bible literacy courses.

State lawmakers passed legislation last year that allowed districts to offer the courses as electives. State education officials were tasked with setting guidelines. 

The ACLU says practices at McCracken and some other districts “fall short of academic and objective study of the Bible and its historical context or literary value.”

The McCracken County School District has not responded to multiple requests for comment.

The ACLU scanned documents they deemed questionable, including several labeled as having come from McCracken County. 

Matt Markgraf joined the WKMS team as a student in January 2007. He's served in a variety of roles over the years: as News Director March 2016-September 2019 and previously as the New Media & Promotions Coordinator beginning in 2011. Prior to that, he was a graduate and undergraduate assistant. He is currently the host of the international music show Imported on Sunday nights at 10 p.m.
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