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I am a school counselor for a district (near Plano) that also had a bit of a Bible controversy.
The first time I encountered this was a few years ago. I was leaving our school parking lot after school, and standing at the parking exits at our school were Gideons handing out New Testament Bibles to cars who were leaving. I received one, turned around, and drove back to the front of the school where the principal and assistant principal were doing bus duty. I mentioned "Do you know about this"? in which they nodded yes. I was a bit flabbergasted, and decided to talk to my building principal the next day.
He told me that the okay was given (either by our school board or our superintendent. Our board is, of course, very right wing; simply because my community is). I figured since they were at the exit of our campus, then they had the right to do this. So I didn't press the issue further.
The next year, the Gideons had a table set up in the front lobby of our school. They had a display with their name, and the Bibles set out for students to take. Again, this bothered me, but after the table was set up, the Gideons left the campus and students were free to take one if they so chose. I kept thinking how my community would have responded if a Muslim group were doing the same thing. But, again, I wasn't sure about the law in this regard, so I remained silent.
Well, turned out that same group had a display at the high school. On the display were also the school colors. Finally, a brave soul (not me, probably a parent) made a call to our local Fox News affiliate. A reporter came out and talked to some students and board members. The reporter talked to one board member who appeared dumbfounded when the question came that perhaps it appeared our district was supporting this endeavor by having a table in a school with the school colors on it. The board member said she wasn't aware the table had the school colors.
Anyway, out district hasn't had anymore of this nonsense with the Gideons. Several of my right wing colleagues were upset about this, but I told them I would support the Gideons as long as other religions could do the same. Were they able to agree with that? A few said yes, and others remained silent. Typical.
So, my suggestion. Get ahold of the media. That sure gets the district's attention. If the Gideons get to do that, then fine. But let other religious groups have the same privilege. Including those who support the great, noodly appendage. LOL!
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