Children can’t read Bible in school
Written by ry on May 13th, 2005
When 6 year-old Wesley Busch picked the Bible as the book that he wanted his mother to read in his kidergarten class as part of “me week,” I’m sure he didn’t mean to violate the seperation of church and state in American schools.
Busch, whose family attends Spruce Street Baptist Church in Newtown Square, said Wesley had three copies of the Bible that he carried around in a yellow knapsack. The family reads the Bible before bed and over breakfast in the morning.
So it was natural, she added, for Wesley to pick the Bible when asked to bring in his favorite book on Oct. 18 for his “Me Week” selection. The activity features a different student telling about himself or herself each week.
…
While a multicultural holiday celebration is generally accepted, reading the Bible to young children might be interpreted as an endorsement from the school, she said. Young children “are less able to understand the difference between what is the truth and what is the school giving them information,” Gittens said.
The Rev. Barry Lynn, who heads Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, agreed that when information came from a teacher or parent, “it’s certainly going to give the appearance of promoting religion to very young children.”
On the other hand, a student wearing an “I love Jesus” T-shirt would be acceptable. “When you start involving a teacher and a parent, then you cross the line,” he said.
…
Donna Busch said she just wants her son to be able to share who he is - someone who loves religion - with his classmates. After the incident in the classroom, Wesley told her that it was bad to read the Bible.
“It’s very, very sad,” she said.
It’s certainly a controversial issue, and not one that I’d really like to get into here, though I can’t help but wonder what would have happened if young Wesley had wanted his mother to read the Hidden Words.
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