When Liberals Attack! "The Show and Tell Bible"

The U.S. Court of Appeals ruled in June 2009 that a Pennsylvania kindergartner cannot share his favorite book, the Bible, with his schoolmates.

Citing their "tender age," the Third Circuit Court of Appeals has sided with the Marple Newtown School District near Philadelphia, who prohibited a mother from reading some verses from the Bible as part of her son's "Show and Tell." Teachers and officials at the school, Culbertson Elementary School, had initially refused to allow the reading, and after a lawsuit was filed, the circuit court agreed with the district. The mother, Donna Kay Busch, said the reading was similar to lessons the children had on Passover and Christmas.

Busch's son, who was five at the time, was participating in a school project called "Me Week," during which students shared things about them, including things they liked. When the student tried to show how his favorite book, however, the school stepped in.

The chain of school personnel with no common sense is staggering. The kindergarten teacher, who should know best that kindergarteners aren't going to be emotionally or intellectually scarred by hearing a Psalm, should have allowed the mother to read it, but instead called the principal and blew the situation out of proportion. According to the lawsuit, the principal said reading a Psalm would violate the "separation of church and state."

At a time when sex education and cultural diversity training are now geared to kindergarteners, the idea that there is already a built-in hostility towards Christianity in our education system is a scary proposition. American United for Separation of Church and State, eager to push Christian expression out of the public eye, even filed an amicus brief in support of the district's decision.

In his ruling, one judge on the circuit court argued that while he believes in the separation of church and state, he is bothered by the idea that free speech was being muzzled. He argued that speech by students could be censored only if it "materially disrupts" the education process or violates other's civil rights, which was not the case here. Finally, a pinch of common sense from the bench.

One wonders if the "tender age" cited by the other judges leaves them vulnerable to learning about such harmful Biblical principles as love, joy, peace, and patience. Under this line of reasoning, the school district, and the court, should prohibit the public viewing of "A Charlie Brown Christmas" because Linus quotes the Christmas story directly from the gospels, including the damaging phrase "Peace on Earth, good will to men." Something is seriously wrong in Marple Newtown.

Source: Associated Press

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