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ACLU defends the bible in school
Categories: Kids 5-7, Education, That's Entertainment
Actually, the ACLU just confirmed my defense of the bible's place in a public school. Whoa, wait, what? Is Beelzebub strapping on ice skates? Have there been sightings of aerial swine? Or have I just taken complete leave of my senses? Well, actually, none of the above. But, yes, I did defend the bible's presence in a public school classroom.Here's what happened. On Thursday, my wife, a first grade teacher in a public school, saw a large book in one of her student's desks. Thinking it was a dictionary, she told the child they could not keep such a large dictionary in their desk; they needed room for their schoolwork and supplies. The next morning, the child's mother came storming into the classroom accusing my wife of telling her child that she couldn't keep a bible in her desk.
It turns out the large book was a bible, not a dictionary, and the parent wanted her kid to keep it with her at school. Rachel said she'd have to check and the parent demanded to know by the end of the school day. She called me and I said that I thought it was okay, that it was no different than a kid who wanted to bring a Harry Potter book or A Brief History of Time to school to read at lunch time or recess. Still, I told her I'd check into it.
So, I called the ACLU, those stalwart defenders of the faith (or lack thereof). Their website said pretty much the same thing that I had told Rachel: "Whenever a teacher allows children to choose their own topics for an assignment (such as which book to read, which song to sing, or which topic to study for a presentation), students may choose religious themes - and the ACLU has protected their right to do so."
The woman that I talked to checked with their legal expert on the subject and determined that if the kid wanted to bring their bible with them, it shouldn't be a problem. I let Rachel know, and everyone is happy. The net is, the rules regarding a kid bringing a bible to school are the same as for any other book, and you should never let anyone tell you different.
As for me, it's certainly not the choice I'd make for my kids, but I will do my best to protect others' right to make that choice for theirs'.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
DaMoKi Bob 9-15-2007 @ 11:20AM
Roger,
I know there are many who frown on the ACLU, and at times is does seem they are scraping the bottom of the humanity barrel when selecting those defended, but, for the most part, they direct their efforts toward the defense of principle with little to no regard for the character of the individuals involved.
Personnaly I cringe at the an outcome when a generally believed-to-be-guilty person is "released" due to efforts, regardless of the intentions, which are not within the boundaries of our system.
But, if you are going to truely defend the wall, you must defend all the bricks equally.
As for this situation, those who see it as a Christian "victory", consider this, the actions of the ACLU just rendered the Bible "just another book".
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Nancy Toby 9-15-2007 @ 11:36AM
Sounds like you have a good handle on this situation, Roger! Now why a parent insists that a first grader keep ANY enormous bulky non-curricular book in their desk, I'll never understand, but it sounds okay as long as they aren't prostelyzing to the first grader sitting next to them.
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Ann Adams 9-15-2007 @ 11:46AM
Sure it's okay as long as that same parent doesn't come in next week screaming about the copy of Harry Potter on the next desk.
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Uly 9-15-2007 @ 9:15PM
I agree with the ACLU's stance here - but maybe your wife should suggest to the teacher that the kid could bring a smaller, more compact Bible?
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SKL 9-16-2007 @ 10:56PM
Schools should train teachers on this point. There have been too many incidences of teachers telling children they are not allowed to have anything whatsoever to do with their religion while in school.
As for whether the child may be proselytizing, let's not forget freedom of speech - it applies to religious speech too - as long as the government is not establishing a religion - check the First Amendment's actual wording.
Kudos to the mom for demanding that her child's right be upheld.
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Tami 9-18-2007 @ 12:55PM
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;..."
Actually it goes a bit further than children being "allowed" to have religious items. Public school teachers, as agents of the state, are legally not allowed to prohibit students from having those items, because that would be prohibiting the free exercise of their religion. In general the courts have held that as long as it doesn't interfere with the regular school day it shouldn't be prohibited (yeah, I know that gets into the fuzzy area of what is interference, but I guess that's why judges are there to decide). Public school teachers, on the other hand, have to be extremely careful with any displays of their religion, because that could be seen as the state establishing religion.
It all boils down to where the show of religion is coming from. Student led religion is allowed (free exercise of religion cannot be prohibited), but teacher (state employee) led religion is not allowed (would be an establishment of religion).
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