School District Sued Over Bible Ban

[Kadie]

School District Sued Over Bible Ban
Woman Claims School Infringed On Her Religious Beliefs

POSTED: 12:03 pm PDT May 12, 2005
UPDATED: 12:10 pm PDT May 12, 2005

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Kindergartner Wesley Busch looked forward to his mother visiting his Philadelphia-area elementary school and reading aloud from his favorite book, the Bible.

But Donna Busch said she was denied the opportunity when a principal who appeared agitated said Wesley's cherished book wasn't welcome in a public school classroom.

snip...
Her lawsuit also says that students were allowed to read a book about Judaism, learn the dreidel game and make Hanukkah decorations, but weren't allowed to make Christmas decorations.

more...
http://www.thekcrachannel.com/education/4482542/detail.html

[da_chimperor]

1. A book about Judaism isn't the Torah. n/t

[Deja Q]

2. Allow them all or ban them all.

Then we'll get lawsuits SOLELY from the atheists or freakishly "faithful" fruitcakes.

[Book Lover]

3. More context is required

to form a real opinion about this situation. I hope thesmokinggun.com has filed their FIOA...

[darkism]

4. The poll is being freeped.

NO religious text has ANY place in a PUBLIC school. It's that simple.

Vote in the poll and tell these fundie nutjobs to keep their religion out of our public space.

[MARALE]

6. I tried voting in the poll

everytime I voted, the other side went up at least 5. Not an accurate poll when you can vote more than once.

:evilfrown: :evilfrown: :evilfrown: :evilfrown:

[Nevernose]

8. The ACLU disagrees with you

As long as it's the students' choice, not curricular, and not influenced by the teacher, religion has a place in school. Even then there are exceptions, such as in the case of teaching religious texts as books and not religion. The ACLU has taken this particular issue to court numerous times, and has consistently won.

I suspect that if it were an open call for parents to read from any book, then the bible would technically be legal -- not only is it taught as literature in most universities, but most high school world lit classes at least contain excerpts. A friend of mine teaches 11th and 12th grade multicultural literature, and religious readings from most of the world's cultrures are a required part. It's all perfectly legal, and I think a good idea. Unfortunately, there's not much difference under the law between a high school senior and a six year old kindergartner.

I am certain, however, that it's in bad taste to try and read it to someone's first-graders -- momma shouldda had better judgement.

[dissent1977]

11. I am a strong supporter of the seperation of church and state but...

The schools should have all the major religious texts in their libraries. Whether you are religious or not (and I am not) you have to acknowledge that religious texts have enormous historical significance, and educational value. I certainly do not want one religion to be favored over another, and I don't think this woman should be able to read the Bible out loud to kindergarteners in a public library but that doesn't mean the book should be banned altogether. The Supreme Court agrees that religion should be taught in schools, but it needs to be taught in a way that does not favor one religion over another.

[booksenkatz]

13. Why only the MAJOR religious texts?

My religion is not a major religion; by not including it in the school library, the government is calling my religion a gutter religion, right? My religion is one which worships a giant styrofoam grasshopper named Hoppy, by the way. Not many followers, but we are just as fervent in our beliefs as any Jew, Muslim or Christian. Why should our religious texts be excluded, just because most Americans think our belief in Hoppy is stupid? Maybe WE think that THEIR belief systems are bizarre.
:crazy:

See where this would lead? While I agree that there is educational/historical value in learning about the belief systems of others: there is no way any elementary, or even high school, library can hold that many books! That's what public libraries are for... and churches, synagogues, mosques, etc.

Didn't mean to attack you, I'm just in a snarky mood tonight. And where are my manners, welcome to DU!
:hi:

[dissent1977]

15. I am not saying they should be excluded...

I would like to see all the major religious texts in school libraries, but that does not mean minor religions should be excluded. If you have a religious text that gives us Hoppy's philosophy I would have no problem having it in the school's library.

Seriously though, it is important that all libraries have the most important historical texts and the Bible and the Koran probably have more historical significance than the book of Hoppy does.

[booksenkatz]

16. Hee hee

You'd be surprised to know about Hoppy's influence throughout history!! We true believers resent the glory that is given to others that actually should have been given to Hoppy. (Although there is a sect out in Idaho that more closely allies with traditional history.)
:7

But truly, from a purely practical level, I don't think the schools have that kind of funding. The libraries have more funding for collections like that.

[Massacure]

22. Yes it does. Why not have a high school philosophy class?

Besides, it isn't possible to understand the situtation in the Middle East without discussing religion. Of course there is a HUGE difference between discussing religion's influence and trying to say one is right and one is wrong.

[MARALE]

5. There are several things about this I don't believe!

1) They did not have a statement from the school or seem to even try. Why take the lady's word for it, when she reads to her kindergardener directly from the bible. It is full of inappropriate things for small children in many places.

2) I am sure it is only his favorite book because he doesn't get read many others things at home. It is pretty dry for a 5 year old.

3) At christmastime, they may have been learning about the Jewish holiday, but who said they also had to learn about the Christian holiday. Maybe they will teach about one religion each year.

4) Are their names really "Busch"?

[Atlas Mugged]

7. Sounds suspicious to me, too

His favorite book? In kindergarten??? Is it an illuminated text or something?

This sounds like the same bullshit with the little girl who's Bush poster was ripped up by some mean ol' librul.

[TheFarseer]

17. That's what I thought

This is another setup by the religious right. I KNOW there is alot more to this than we are hearing. The bible is only his favorite book because his parents told him that. Let's see him read some passages, not likely at 5 years of age. Also, who is going to tell a littel kid he can't read from the bible? No way in this climate - unless there is alot more to this. This story stinks on ice.

[sakabatou]

9. No christmas decor? WTH?

That doesn't make any sense...

[David__77]

10. Can I come read Das Kapital? The Koran?

There's no "right" to come and read books in a public or any school. Look at the poll results.

[dissent1977]

12. You should be able to...

Just like the Bible, the Koran and Das Kapital are texts of enormous historical significance that should be in every library. The seperation of church and state does not mean we have to ignore religion entirely, it just means the state can not promote one religion over another. I am agnostic, not Christian, but I strongly believe that texts with so much historical significance belong in the library.

On Edit: I may have misread what you were trying to say in your post. Just to make it clear, just because I believe these books should be in the library does NOT mean that I think this Mother should have been allowed to read the Bible to Kindergarteners in a public school. That is a clear violation of the seperation of church and state (unless she presents it in a way which does not favor Christianity over other religions, but Kindergarteners are way too young to understand the world religions or even the Bible for that matter so that would be stupid in this case). I do think these books belong in the library however.

[msongs]

14. bible inappropriate for kids: incest, rape. murder, genocide witches etc.

as content it is suitable for teens and older.

oughta be kept outta elementary schools and locked up in middle schools.

Msongs
www.msongs.com/political-shirts.htm

[LeftyMom]

20. witches are inappropriate?

Who knew? :shrug:

[HockeyMom]

18. I posted on another thread

about my experience with a little boy, his Mom, and the Bible in class.

Sorry, for putting it on the wrong thread.



http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1466894

[Ian David]

19. 24% Yes, 69% No

Did the school do the right thing by not allowing the mother to read the Bible to her son's class?
Choice Votes Percentage of 2456 Votes
Yes 582 24%
No 1706 69%
Not sure 168 7%

[VegasWolf]

21. So? What if the kid's favorite book had been "The Story of O?" Should

it still be allowed? The school was absolutely right,
time to stop poisoning the minds of the little innocents with
this bible crap.