The Courier-Record

FINDING TIME FOR BIBLE

All ‘Amens’ from School Board, but decision delayed
COMPROMISE SOUGHT ON OPTIONAL PROGRAM

JERRY COLE “Parents want their children to learn about prayer, moral living...”

JERRY COLE “Parents want their children to learn about prayer, moral living…”

Nottoway School officials are expressing full support for the division’s Weekday Religious Education program but have tabled action on how best to continue allowing Bible classes without interfering with core instructional time.

The School Board’s 5-0 decision came Thursday night during a special meeting with members of the Nottoway Council of Churches, which administers the optional program for 1st and 2nd graders at Blackstone and Crewe Primary Schools.

The program has had a two-year lay-off due to COVID. Organizers are hoping to resume this coming school year.

But educators are under pressure to make-up for learning loss due to the pandemic, and Division Supt. Dr. Tameshia Grimes said Thursday that principals report the program has interrupted core instructional time.

School Board Chair Shelli Hinton told Council of Churches President Jerry Cole, “We want to be able to make this work, but we’re going to need to revamp it… We just can’t have it interrupt core instruction — especially after the past two years where our kids have lost normal teaching.”

LAURA DANIEL “You can tell that it makes a difference in a lot of the kids’ lives.”

LAURA DANIEL “You can tell that it makes a difference in a lot of the kids’ lives.”

Mrs. Hinton, who teaches at Hopewell High School, noted, “I’ve got juniors who can’t tell me what a noun and a verb is.”

‘WHOLE CHILD’

“Over the years,” Cole told officials, “we have made major impacts on the lives of children in Nottoway County… Parents want their children to learn about prayer, moral living, good character, and the Bible.”

Cole said parents are asking for Bible classes to resume and that instruction provides “spiritual guidance, which is necessary for development of the whole child.”

‘POSITIVE IMPACT’

Council of Churches Board member, David Wood, agreed. “In these times, when it’s hard to find good families…it’s important for children to know that God loves them…I grewup in a Christian home and went to Sunday School and church. Nowadays, that’s not the norm for a lot of families.”

DAVID WOOD “It’s important for children to know that God loves them.”

DAVID WOOD “It’s important for children to know that God loves them.”

Wood’s daughter, Donna Rhea, and wife Betty, teach the program along with vol- unteers. Wood says he’s seen students run up and hug his wife and daughter. “You can see the positive change in their eyes, and you can’t fool a child.”

Former educator and Weekday Religious volunteer Laura Daniel agreed. “You can tell that it makes a difference in a lot of of the kids’ lives… It’s had a positive impact on students.”

Participating students take one 40-minute class per week. About 92%, or 280 students, participated during the last year it was offered (2019-20), said Cole.

School Board member Jimmy Fowlkes said he supports the program “one hundred percent” and that it should be held during school, but perhaps classes could be shortened to 25 or even 20 minutes to reduce “overlap” time when students return to their regular classes.

BOBBY DUFFY “A compromise beats God’s word not being anywhere.”

BOBBY DUFFY “A compromise beats God’s word not being anywhere.”

BETTER THAN NOTHING

Bobby Duffy of Crewe Baptist Church said everyone involved should be grateful for the School Board and Superintendent’s support and flexibility. “A compromise beats God’s word not being anywhere… that’s better than not just having it at all.”

Duffy said there are some areas in Virginia today “where we wouldn’t even be allowed to talk.”

Mrs. Daniel agreed. “We’ve always realized how fortunate we’ve been to have had such a receptive School Board and Superintendent…We know COVID has impacted y’all. It’s impacted us, and it’s still impacting people today.”

SHELLI HINTON “We want to make this work, but we’re going to need to revamp it.”

SHELLI HINTON “We want to make this work, but we’re going to need to revamp it.”

Mrs. Daniel added that Weekday Religious Education staff have always tried to consult with schools and pick schedules best for teachers.

TOUGHER STANDARDS

Supt. Dr. Grimes said that elementary schools today must provide instruction in art, music, physical education, and health in addition to English, Math, Science, History, and Social Science (Social Studies). Dr. Grimes expressed support for WRE but added, “Times have changed, and our requirements have changed.”

The Franklin native recalled her kindergarten days consisting of recess, naps, and learning letters and sounds. “But today, it’s much more structurally-focused. The state has these requirements, and my job as Superintendent is to protect that. Because at the end of the school year, I have to sign a certification that says we engaged students in at least 180 days or 990 hours of instruction.”

Dr. Grimes said she’s “sympathetic, and we want to work out how the program can be offered…but it does impact instruction.” Dr. Grimes also noted reported “disruption” when Bible students return to classes.

Dr. Grimes asked if the program could be offered after school, before school or on Saturdays but Cole said that presents staffing issues, particularly with the large number of children whose parents typically opt-in.

School Board member Fowlkes said it’s important for the class to be offered during the school day, or else participation would decline.

THOSE LEFT BEHIND

New Blackstone Primary School principal Delphine Simmons-Fowlkes, wife of School Board member Fowlkes, said that whatever solution is offered must also take into account students who don’t participate in Bible classes, and that they be accommodated as well.

Dr. Grimes noted that with the majority of a class gone, “the teacher typically isn’t going to engage in instruction.”

‘OPPOSITION’

Nottoway has held Weekday Religious Education classes since 1939. In 1984, after several court decisions, the program went to off-campus classrooms within sight of each school.

“Nobody’s ever expressed any opposition to the program,” Cole recalled. “This is the first time I’ve heard anything about it mentioned.”

Cole said the program wants to continue to operate and to do so legally. He assured officials, “We don’t want to get y’all in trouble.”

Cole also said it’s long been the group’s intent and understanding that Bible classes are offered only during students’ elective hours.

‘MISCOMMUNICATION’

Officials reassured Cole they support the program but new state standards — coupled with learning loss from the pandemic — are making it more difficult.

Mrs. Hinton fondly recalled her two sons, now 27 and 23, taking Bible classes when they attended Blackstone Primary.

Mrs. Hinton opened Thursday’s special meeting by saying there had been “some miscommunication…We want you to know that we’re very supportive of the program, but our job is to protect instruction. We realize that Christian school is instruction, so we want to be able to work in a way, that works for all of us.”

But she also noted that in addition to requirements mentioned earlier by Supt. Dr. Grimes, the division has added “Social and Emotional Instruction,” which she said is also mandated by the Dept. of Education.

School Board member Jamie Higgins asked if the program could be offered to older students.

Board Chair Hinton agreed, saying, “An older student might understand better.”

Bible assistant teacher Betty Wood said that option has been denied due to SOL tests in older grade levels.

SAME PAGE

School Board member Higgins said he wants everyone on the Council of Churches to understand “that we are in support of what you’re doing. We just have to figure out how to make it work.”

School Board member Bill Outlaw called Thursday’s joint meeting “tremendous” and echoed Jimmy Fowlkes’ suggestion to have shorter Bible classes, particularly since 1st and 2nd graders tend to have “limited attention spans.”

Thursday’s vote to table includes the Board revisiting the issue at its Sept. 8th meeting. Weekday Religious Education typically doesn’t begin until a month or so into the school year.

Nottoway Public Schools resume classes next Monday, August 22nd.

5 responses to “FINDING TIME FOR BIBLE”

  1. Dela Rees says:

    This is disturbing. Should not be allowed in public schools. Violation of church-state separation. Even voluntary,children feel pressured to follow peers. The group teaches Christian principles, which ignores other religions. Is not even inclusive. What about Jews, Muslims, etc.? Unbelievers? Public schools should not be having Christian teaching. I believe in freedom of religion and freedom from religion. Bible studies should be in churches and homes—not government entities.

  2. Carey Mason Perkins says:

    Nottoway County has now exposed its disdain for the Constitution. Its residents should be ashamed.

  3. Steve Franklin says:

    Holding Bible study classes or other religious studies in public schools during regular school time is absolutely a violation of the 1st amendment. The fact that the school may have done this in the past makes no difference. If the school proceeds to offer bible or religious studies on school propery during school hours the school risks costly legal fees that will be paid for by local taxpayers.

    • news@courier-record.com says:

      For clarification only, the classes are offered off-campus.

      • Steve Franklin says:

        Thanks for the clarification. However, if any school staff actively promotes or encourages students to enroll in the religious classes that would still constitute a violation of the 1st amendment.

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