Williamson County School Board OKs Religion Policy

The Williamson County School Board unanimously approved a new, state-required anti-religious indoctrination policy Monday.

The policy prohibits the promotion of a religion or any instruction which might be construed as evangelism, though it does acknowledge the educational value of learning about world religions and differentiates between education and religious instruction.

"However, 'teaching about' religion in a public school setting is not 'instruction in' religion. Teaching about religion in a Tennessee public school setting includes the study of various religions consistent with standards established by the Tennessee Department of Education. Instruction in religion, by contrast, is to seek acceptance of and commitment to a particular religion or set of religious beliefs, or to seek rejection of any particular religion or set of religious beliefs," the policy reads in part.

The board approved the policy, which is required under a new state law, sponsored by Rep. Matthew Hill (R - Jonesborough) and Sen. Mike Bill (R - Riceville), requiring school boards adopt policies "regarding the appropriate inclusion of religion in local curriculum and instructional materials" prior to the start of the 2016-17 school year.

The move came as a reaction to complaints from parents, particularly in Williamson and Maury counties, that a new 7th-grade social studies textbook's unit on Islam was tantamount to "Muslim indoctrination."

The board also unanimously approved a positive evaluation for Director of Schools Mike Looney. In a survey of the system's principals, top front-office personnel and the board itself, Looney scored a 3.8 out of 4. Looney's contract runs through 2019.