The U.S. Supreme Court has been asked to hear a case in which the parent of a kindergarten student was denied permission to share a Bible story and asked to read a book about witches to his classmates instead.
Donna Busch accepted an invitation to visit her son Wesley's kindergarten classroom at Culbertson Elementary School in Newtown Square, Penn., to read a passage of Wesley's favorite book to his classmates in Oct 2004, according to her lawyer.
Wesley's teacher had invited Busch because the boy was the featured student of "All About Me," a school event to feature a particular student and emphasize that student's personal characteristics, preferences and personality in classroom activities.
The Rutherford Institute is asking the Supreme Court to hear the case.
"They had a week where the child in the kindergarten class could read their favorite book -- and his favorite book was the Bible, and she wanted to read a few passages from the Psalms," said John Whitehead, who is the founder of the institute. "It wasn't anything about Jesus or whatever. It was one of those Psalms that talks about God, but it's not overtly religious."
Busch went to the school on the scheduled day, but ran into a problem upon arriving, Whitehead said. "The principal actually met her at the school door, knew she was coming, and said she couldn't bring the Bible in the school," he says. "But [the principal] said they could go ahead and read from another book, a Halloween book -- which many people consider Halloween a religious holiday because it deals with spirits and ghosts -- but you couldn't read from the Bible."
The case was lost in lower courts. Whitehead said that kind of hostility toward religion should never be found in an American public school.
Contributing sources: OneNewsNow.com and The Rutherford Institute.
More articles by Alex Murashko at LA Church & State Examiner.
Comments
This is exactly why I homeschool; it is one of the few ways where our religious rights and non liberal bias can be given. Witches? Please!!!! I have so many stories where public schools have chosen "religions" other than Christianity in the name of multiculturalism. So annoying.
Another shining example of why Parents MUST remove their Children from the government schools.
It is interesting to note that this was billed as "share a story from your favorite book" Which turned out to be a deceptive premise to begin with.
I would be curious to know whether the 'teacher'(and I use that term loosely), happened to be a Wiccan or some other New Age earth worshipping lunatic?
I'd be curious to hear the basis upon which the the district courts found in favor of the school. Alex, any information from court documents?
It seems like a bizarre case from where I sit. I have been in classes where people share Bible stories - you just can't turn it into a religious gathering by then leading prayer, worship etc. However, kids share stories or write about these things in essays for school all the time. I'm wondering why THIS case was seen differently.
And I sincerely doubt this was a way for the teacher to convey a Wiccan or New Age religion. Kids' Halloween books (for the most part) are innocent in their portrayal of such things as being goofy/silly. If anything, it would make kids think that Wiccans/New Age types are silly and nothing to be taken seriously. We shouldn't get going on a witch hunt (no pun intended) over the book that he was told to read.
Alex - No response to the question? Have you been able to look into this? I'd be curious to at least hear the rationale of the courts in this decision.
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