[Batpuff]

The Associated Press


FRANKFORT — The state school board reversed itself Wednesday on a plan to overhaul historic designations in Kentucky public schools.

The board voted to maintain the traditional acronyms of B.C. for Before Christ and A.D. for Anno Domini, Latin for in the year of the Lord, when referring to historic dates and eliminate any reference to C.E. or Common Era, and B.C.E., Before Common Era.

The reversal came after Gov. Ernie Fletcher, an ordained Baptist minister who opposes the new historic designations, recently appointed six new members to the 11-member board. All 10 board members present voted in favor of leaving the B.C.-A.D. reference in tact.

The board had preliminary approved a measure in April that would change the acronyms.

The change to C.E. and B.C.E. was proposed so that Kentucky students would be familiar with the terms, which are coming into widespread use and would likely be on college placement tests, state education officials have said.