PIERRE, S.D. (KTIV) -
South Dakota public school teachers may be adding bible study to their lesson plans. The legislature passed a resolution that encourages the study of religious documents.
One supporter, Dakota Dunes State Senator Dan Lederman, who is Jewish, says it might seem surprising that he would support such a measure, but he explained why.
"There's a lot of things in the bible that have been pulled out in literature, have been pulled out by our founding fathers, and I think that it is worthy of study, as long as we keep it in a non-devotional way," said Lederman.
State Representative Nick Moser also supported the bill. As the director of Family and Youth Ministries in Yankton, Moser says it's important for students to understand the history of not only the bible, but also the Koran, the Torah, and other religious documents.
"So much of our geopolitical situation across the world right now is related to religious history or religious beliefs, and I do think that even in a public school it's important for kids to have, at the very least, that historical context," pointed out Moser.
The resolution is non-binding, so schools don't have to follow the state's recommendation, thus keeping the separation of church and state.
