Public high-school students could get two class credits for off-campus religious education they attend during regular school hours under a bill passed yesterday by the Ohio House of Representatives.

Public high-school students could get two class credits for off-campus religious education they attend during regular school hours under a bill passed yesterday by the Ohio House of Representatives.

The bill passed by a 78-15 vote would give school boards authority to excuse students from school to receive religious instruction with parental permission in classes conducted at churches or other parties at no cost to the schools.

A school board could approve the curriculum, hours of class time, testing methods and instructor qualifications, but school districts could not spend any public funds on religious education, including transportation.

The bill�s sponsors, Reps. Jeff McClain, R-Upper Sandusky, and Bill Patmon, D-Cleveland, stressed that the bill was an option for school districts, not a requirement, and promises to help � build character� among Ohio youth.

�There�s no prayer. I think we need prayer. There are no (religious) symbols. We need symbols,� Patmon told his colleagues while suggesting that students who study religion are higher classroom achievers.

The class credits for religious instruction would be electives and could not be substituted for those required in core courses such as English, health, mathematics, science, social studies and government.

Rep. Dan Ramos, D-Lorain, was the only opponent to speak against the measure, arguing that it would not provide equal opportunity since some students would not find classes connected to or offered by their religious denomination.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio, in testifying against the bill earlier, argued that it was a potential �end run� to teach creationism � the religious belief that God created Earth and all life � to public-school students.

Court rulings forbid teaching creationism in public schools, where science classes teach evolution � the scientific premise that life, including humans, evolved over eons from earlier, more-primitive forms.

�Students learning about religious faith also may learn things contrary to what they are taught in school,� said Gary Daniels, ACLU of Ohio�s associate director. �They could be learning biology, physics � and creationism.�

Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-president of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, a Madison, Wis., nonprofit group, objected to the �religious purpose� of the bill, which now goes to the Senate for consideration.

�Ultimately, public schools would be rewarding students with easy credits for submitting to proselytization,� she said. �What�s next? Students demanding school credit because they�ve attended Sunday school?�

The House also voted 73-20 to join the Senate in approving Gov. John Kasich�s request to present his State of the State address on Feb. 24 in Medina, the hometown of outgoing Republican House Speaker William G. Batchhelder.

rludlow@dispatch.com

@RandyLudlow