“The kids made a mockery of it, snickering and laughing and offering up smart-ass remarks during the readings.”
I know this isn’t true because it represents fringe behavior, even in today’s standards. In 1962, mocking Bible readings would have been unheard of.
I experienced this FIRST HAND at Koffman Middle School then at Hopkinsville High School in Hopkinsville, Kentucky in the time period centered around 1962 and 1963. I have no reason to lie about that.