The ongoing fight over whether the Bible and other religious texts should be allowed in Idaho's classrooms is about to go before the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Officials at Nampa Classical Academy, one of the biggest charger schools in Idaho, began struggling with state officials over the issue shortly after opening in August 2009. The quarrel continued, even after the Idaho Public Charter School Commission closed the academy last summer, citing financial trouble. The school is now challenging the dismissal of its federal lawsuit against state officials who barred religious material as teaching tools in the classroom.
"Where it stands now is that the State of Idaho has banned the objective study of the Bible and all religious texts -- whether it's for history...literature...music or whatever it happens to be -- from being used at all," reports Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) attorney David Cortman. "So this case is being watched, and certainly as it goes up through the appeal process, [it] will be very important precedent for not only the state, but other states as well."
He believes the case could ultimately make it to the Supreme Court, where this issue has already been addressed.
"The Supreme Court has ruled several times already that it's consistent with the Establishment Clause to study the Bible as part of history or literature objectively in public schools," the attorney notes. "So some interesting questions are presented here."
Cortman adds that his firm is preparing briefs this week to present to the Ninth Circuit.
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