The Texas State Board of Education ruled last week that as early as this fall Texas high schools can start offering students an elective Bible course. The board, affirming an earlier decision, voted 10-5 to adopt broad standards for the Bible class, leaving schools responsible for designing their own Bible curriculum in a way that doesn’t violate religious-freedom protections. Critics caution, however, that without specific guidelines, schools will be vulnerable to lawsuits–which explains why many Texas districts are taking a wait and see approach.

“The good book deserves better than it got today, and so does the state of Texas,” [Mark Chancey, an associate professor and chairman of the department of religious studies at Southern Methodist University] said. “These courses can be a wonderfully enriching educational experience, but they must be taught in a way that is academically, legally and ethically appropriate. Teachers need and want resources to help them do just that.

“Instead, the board of education is sending them into a minefield without a map.”