Concern raised over Bible class enrollment
Author/Byline: Neil Nisperos , Staff Writer
A class studying the Bible as literature in three Chino Valley district schools has drawn criticism from parents who questioned the necessity of the class.
Chino Hills High School parent Lisa Greathouse asked the school board recently why district officials are continuing to operate the class at her school with only 12 students while other overcrowded classes could use an additional teacher for relief.
"While it might have been feasible in past years to keep an elective open with a handful of students, in today's economy, our district does not have the luxury," Greathouse said. "How can you possibly justify expending resources to keep this class instead of splitting up core classes that are outrageously overcrowded?"
A class studying the Bible as literature in three Chino Valley district schools has drawn criticism from parents who questioned the necessity of the class.
Chino Hills High School parent Lisa Greathouse asked the school board recently why district officials are continuing to operate the class at her school with only 12 students while other overcrowded classes could use an additional teacher for relief.
"While it might have been feasible in past years to keep an elective open with a handful of students, in today's economy, our district does not have the luxury," Greathouse said. "How can you possibly justify expending resources to keep this class instead of splitting up core classes that are outrageously overcrowded?"
The class, a senior class at three of the district's high schools, began this fall after community residents, many from the Calvary Chapel Chino Hills, asked school officials for it to be placed on the curriculum.
"Many students have wanted this Bible class as well as their parents," district board trustee James Na said. "Even though we have significantly lower numbers here than other programs, I liken it to the district agriculture program classes I have visited. I can see from the students' eyes how important this program is. Yes, we have different budget cuts and things like that but we're here to serve students."
In her criticism, Greathouse called attention to an AP (advanced placement) world history class that Chino Hills High officials said would be offered this year but did not materialize, and an AP statistics class that has 40 students.
"It seems to me that what is unfair is that taxpayers are being forced to continue funding an elective that should never have been allowed to begin with, with such an unacceptably low enrollment, while our budget crisis is forcing the elimination of classes and programs and putting our students at a tremendous disadvantage with incredibly high class sizes," Greathouse said.
Resident David Tennies, who has served on various school district fiscal oversight committees, said school board members had caved into a special interest in approving the new course.
"We have classes approaching 40 students at the high schools and if there was an extra period available for a teacher, that could free up some of these class size problems," Tennies said.
"I think the board is sending a clear message to the community that in this election year, it's more important for them to cater to the requests of a special interest group than it is to satisfy the needs of the larger student populations of the district."
The district's human resources department determines the number of teachers for each campus and the principal then decides how to use them, said Julie Gobin, district spokeswoman. Elective classes are added or discontinued based on student interest, the direction of the campus and discretion of the principal and administrative staff, she said.
The district has received no complaints about the classes, Gobin said. There were two parents, including Greathouse, who voiced concern at Thursday's board meeting.
The senior year elective course, called the Bible as history and literature, is also offered at Chino and Don Lugo high schools. Chino has 18 students enrolled in the course, while Don Lugo has 16.
The textbook for the course, "The Bible and Its Influence," covers English translations of the Bible, including the King James version, and discusses the Bible's importance in literature and history. Calvary Chapel members pledged to pay for all of the textbooks for the course, said Pastor Jack Hibbs.
Similar public school courses in the United States have generated controversy and debate as some people consider such curriculum in public schools as a violation of the separation of church and state.
Greathouse questions the appropriateness of a Bible-related class in a public school.
"That's what private schools are for and what your church is for," she said. "I think that it does open up our school district to potential lawsuits which we have certainly faced in the past. I don't understand, given the economic crisis that our school district is in, why it would open itself up even to the possibility of a lawsuit."
Hibbs said students should study the Bible because it's been an important foundation for American history.
"This is not only a Christian or a church effort to get the Bible into class," he said. "This was a community effort. The community has stepped up and made it very clear to the school board that we recognize the value of the Bible and we will help support this."
Superintendent Wayne Joseph said the decision to keep an elective open is at the discretion of the school principal, and added it would be unethical to displace the current students a month into the school year.
"It's clear the Chino Hills High School principal will keep this class going and that's within his purview to do so," Joseph said.
"Many students have wanted this Bible class as well as their parents," district board trustee James Na said. "Even though we have significantly lower numbers here than other programs, I liken it to the district agriculture program classes I have visited. I can see from the students' eyes how important this program is. Yes, we have different budget cuts and things like that but we're here to serve students."
In her criticism, Greathouse called attention to an AP (advanced placement) world history class that Chino Hills High officials said would be offered this year but did not materialize, and an AP statistics class that has 40 students.
"It seems to me that what is unfair is that taxpayers are being forced to continue funding an elective that should never have been allowed to begin with, with such an unacceptably low enrollment, while our budget crisis is forcing the elimination of classes and programs and putting our students at a tremendous disadvantage with incredibly high class sizes," Greathouse said.
Resident David Tennies, who has served on various school district fiscal oversight committees, said school board members had caved into a special interest in approving the new course.
"We have classes approaching 40 students at the high schools and if there was an extra period available for a teacher, that could free up some of these class size problems," Tennies said.
"I think the board is sending a clear message to the community that in this election year, it's more important for them to cater to the requests of a special interest group than it is to satisfy the needs of the larger student populations of the district."
The district's human resources department determines the number of teachers for each campus and the principal then decides how to use them, said Julie Gobin, district spokeswoman. Elective classes are added or discontinued based on student interest, the direction of the campus and discretion of the principal and administrative staff, she said.
The district has received no complaints about the classes, Gobin said. There were two parents, including Greathouse, who voiced concern at Thursday's board meeting.
The senior year elective course, called the Bible as history and literature, is also offered at Chino and Don Lugo high schools. Chino has 18 students enrolled in the course, while Don Lugo has 16.
The textbook for the course, "The Bible and Its Influence," covers English translations of the Bible, including the King James version, and discusses the Bible's importance in literature and history. Calvary Chapel members pledged to pay for all of the textbooks for the course, said Pastor Jack Hibbs.
Similar public school courses in the United States have generated controversy and debate as some people consider such curriculum in public schools as a violation of the separation of church and state.
Greathouse questions the appropriateness of a Bible-related class in a public school.
"That's what private schools are for and what your church is for," she said. "I think that it does open up our school district to potential lawsuits which we have certainly faced in the past. I don't understand, given the economic crisis that our school district is in, why it would open itself up even to the possibility of a lawsuit."
Hibbs said students should study the Bible because it's been an important foundation for American history.
"This is not only a Christian or a church effort to get the Bible into class," he said. "This was a community effort. The community has stepped up and made it very clear to the school board that we recognize the value of the Bible and we will help support this."
Superintendent Wayne Joseph said the decision to keep an elective open is at the discretion of the school principal, and added it would be unethical to displace the current students a month into the school year.
"It's clear the Chino Hills High School principal will keep this class going and that's within his purview to do so," Joseph said.
Leave a comment