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Anti-religious indoctrination bill advances through House

Melanie Balakit
USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee
An anti-religious indoctrination bill is advancing toward a final vote from the state Senate and House.

An anti-religious indoctrination bill passed the House Education Instruction and Programs Committee Tuesday after slight amendments to the bill's language.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Matthew Hill, R-Jonesborough, seeks to prevent religious indoctrination in public schools.

HB1905 would require local school boards to determine what is appropriate when teaching religion in school. The bill would also require teachers of core subjects to provide a class syllabus.

"The inclusion of religion in textbooks, instructional materials, curriculum, or academic standards shall be for educational purposes only and shall not be used to promote or establish any religion or religious belief," the bill states. The first amendment changes the word "promote" to "proselytize."

In previous House committee meetings, Rep. Bill Dunn, R-Knoxville, said "promote" could be too open to interpretation.

The second amendment requires teachers to include any field trips on their class syllabus.

Hill said he filed the bill after months of statewide concern about how religion is taught in schools.

In the fall, some people claimed Islamic indoctrination in middle school social studies classes. The concern prompted resolutions from some school boards, town halls and pleas for the repeal of certain textbooks. Students in grades 6-7 learn about major world religions in a historical context.

The bill moves to the House Calendar and Rules Committee.

The state Senate floor will consider the bill Wednesday.

Reach Melanie Balakit at 615-926-1638 and on Twitter @MelanieBalakit.