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The law that allows the use of the Bible as support material in public and private schools of Belo Horizonte entered into force last Thursday (29). The proposal raised a debate on the state’s secularism during the processing in the City Council and is not a consensus among the educational institutions.
While Christian private schools already use the Bible within their pedagogical proposals, there are institutions contrary to the application of the sacred book of Christians in teaching and who do not intend to use it. The state government of Minas Gerais, by means of a note, stated to consider the use of religious books in schools “proselytism”, a term that refers to the attempt to convince someone of their political belief or ideology.
Law authorizing Bible use in schools in Belo Horizonte comes into force. Photo: Reproduction
The law sanctioned this week allows the use of biblical stories as a paradidatic resource for learning cultural, historical, geographical and archaeological contents linked to school projects. However, it does not make the use of the Bible in schools mandatory and provides for students’ optional participation in the activities that use the book.
The Secretariat of Education of Minas Gerais (SEE-MG), responsible for state public schools, said in a statement that follows the principles established in the Federal Constitutionwhich guarantees the secular state and prohibits the link between the public power and any services or churches.
“The use of religious materials in schools, outside the defined pedagogical scope, can configure religious proselytism, contrary to the principles of neutrality, pluralism of ideas and freedom of conscience,” the folder said.
Also according to the State Government, for the discipline of Religious Education, the Secretariat provides specific pedagogical materials through the Mapa Notebooks (Pedagogical Support Material for Learning), which is based on the reference curriculum of Minas Gerais (CRMG).
“These materials aim to promote respect for diversity, the valorization of cultural and social practices and the development of competences in an inclusive and plural way,” added SEE.
The Municipal Secretariat of Education (SMED) did not position itself on the possibility of applying the new legislation in the schools of the capital of Minas Gerais.
Among private schools, adherence to the use of the Bible as a complementary material is not unanimous.
To the Coleguium networkreligious diversity is a value that must be respected in its plurality and, therefore, the Christian work is not used as a paradidatic resource in pedagogical practices.
“We believe that the approach of religious texts, including the Bible, must occur in the family, where each family has autonomy to convey their beliefs and values, respecting the dogmas and traditions of their faith,” said the institution.
Also according to the school, the educational proposal takes into account principles of inclusion, respect for the diversity and critical formation of students, with the purpose of ensuring a welcoming and plural environment for all members of the school community.
Evangelical School already uses Bible
Na Baptist Education Networkwhich is called evangelical confessional, the religious work is already inserted in the daily life of the students as a pedagogical resource from the maternal. According to the college, the goal is to inspire “attitudes and reflections based on virtues capable of transforming the character of the human being.”
During classes, biblical stories are addressed with the intention of developing in students critical sense, empathy and social responsibility.
“As an evangelical Christian confessional school, we follow firmly in the mission of educating not only academic transformation, as we are committed to forming ethical and empathic citizens,” said the Baptist Education Network.
Bible in the activities of Catholic spiritual formation
The same happens in College Escolápio São Miguelin the Nova Floresta neighborhood. As a Catholic confessional institution, the school already integrates the Bible in activities of spiritual formation and religious education, which are based on the principles and values of Catholicism.
“This means that, besides regular education, we seek to promote an education that unites academic knowledge to the experience of faith and the spiritual formation of our students,” said the college.
Regarding the new law, however, the institution reported that the subject will still be debated internally by the board and the teachers, respecting all the legislations, the guidelines of the Ministry of Education (MEC) and the National Curriculum of Basic Education.
The new law was sanctioned by the mayor of Belo Horizonte, Juliano Lopes (Somos)because the mayor Álvaro Damião (União Brasil) did not speak within the expected deadline. Sought, the city did not comment.
According to the text, biblical stories can be used as a paradidatic resource to support cultural, historical, geographical and archaeological contents, linked to school projects.
During the processing in the Belo Horizonte City Council, the proposal raised a debate on the state’s secularism and the implications of the work in pedagogical teaching.
On the one hand, the author of the proposal, Flávia Borja (DC)he argued that the change in municipal legislation allows teachers to address stories of ancient civilizations, such as Israel and Babylon, which are not in other sources, as well as working with different literary genres such as chronicle, poetry and parable.
