Tennessee lawmakers pass bill aiming to prevent 'religious indoctrination' in schools

Tennessee lawmakers have passed a bill which aims to prevent religious indoctrination of students in public schools.

On Monday, the Tennessee state House approved the HB1905 in an 82-2 vote. The bill seeks to allow teaching about religion but prevent Islamic indoctrination of students in public schools in the U.S., Christian Today reports.

HB1905 will require religion to be included in school textbooks, the curriculum, and other instructional materials but only for educational purposes. Proselytizing of any religion or religious belief will not be allowed, based on the provisions of the bill.

In addition, HB1905 will require each local education agency (LEA) to implement rules on the right religious instructional materials. However, the public should be able to comment on the policy before it is implemented, the report details.

Moreover, the new bill would require core subject teachers for grades 6 to 12 to provide a class syllabus, The Tennessean reports.

The state board of education will also be required to revise its social studies standards to ensure that they do not promote religious indoctrination or proselytism, the report relays.

Bill sponsor Matthew Hill (R-Jonesborough) explained that the bill was created in response to residents' concern about religious teaching in Tennessee schools. He said there are possible indoctrinations in the schools.

"This piece of legislation is in direct response to many of our constituents who have been concerned about the way religion has been taught in Tennessee schools," said Hill.

Because of the parents' concern over possible Islamic indoctrination in public schools in Tennessee, some requests to ban textbooks have been filed.

The bill was approved by the House with only Nashville Democrats Mike Stewart and John Ray Clemmons voting against it.

The state Senate floor is set to vote on HB1905 soon and the bill is expected to pass the Senate.