Rep. Susan DuBose on Bible Classes for Public School Students

Alabama State Representative Susan DuBose joined Priority Talk Radio and ALCAP President Greg Davis to discuss her attempts to pass the Alabama Released Time Credit Act which would allow Bible classes for public school students in Alabama.

This bill, House Bill 342 (HB342), reads as follows: “This bill would require each local board of education to adopt a policy allowing elective credit to students who are released from the classroom to attend religious instruction during the school day.”

Rep. DuBose added important clarifications when explaining the bill. The first concerned funding. No public school funding would be used for this; all funding must come from private sources (such as a non-profit). The second is location. This religious education would occur off-campus. Third, the religious program would be an elective and would fit within the school’s schedule for such classes.

Both Greg Davis and Rep. Susan DuBose noted that this is not a foreign idea that has never been done before; other states have already adopted similar measures. In Alabama, thousands of parents are interested in this option being available, but not all school districts allow it. This bill would require each local school board to allow for religious release time: “The State Board of Education shall adopt and each local board of education shall implement a policy allowing a student to attend released time as an elective course if all of the following are satisfied…”.

To listen to their entire conversation, click here.