Bibles banned on playgrounds: Legal group challenges restriction on student activity at recess

WorldNet Daily ^ | May 12, 2005

[Stoat]

BRAVE NEW SCHOOLS
Bibles banned
on playgrounds
Legal group challenges restriction on student activity during recess

---

Posted: May 12, 2005
1:00 a.m. Eastern

© 2005 WorldNetDaily.com

 

 

An elemenatary school principal who barred students from reading the Bible during recess after a complaint from parents is violating the Constitution, according to a public-interest law firm challenging his actions.

In a letter to the Knox County School District in Tennesee, the Alliance Defense Fund declared the principal of Karns Elementary School is on "shaky constitutional ground."

 

"The Constitution does not prohibit Bibles during recess; it prohibits the wholesale banning of Bibles during recess," said Charles Pope, the ADF-allied attorney who wrote the letter to the district.

"A school official cannot tell a student that he can't bring his Bible to school or study it with friends during non-classroom time," Pope stated.

According to ADF, 10-year-old student Luke Whitson used his regularly scheduled recess time to read the Bible with a few friends on his school's playground. After receiving a complaint from a parent, the principal reportedly ordered the students to stop their activity, put their Bibles away and cease from bringing them to school.

"There are no 'age discrimination' allowances in the First Amendment of the Constitution," said ADF Senior Counsel Joseph Infranco. "The law protects these students the same as it protects all students."

Infranco said children "have rights of speech and association during their non-instructional time, and the school may not curtail those rights because of their age."

Whitson's parents sought legal assistance from Pope, who contends "the law as it pertains to this situation is well settled."

"Students may have religious discussions and Bible study during non-instructional time," he explained in his letter. "The school district should immediately issue a statement addressing the unconstitutional actions and policy and alerting all personnel to permit Luke and other similarly situated students to exercise their constitutional rights."

[Stoat]

Karns Elementary School
8108 Beaver Ridge Road
Knoxville, TN 37931
865-539-7767

Knox County Schools

[television is just wrong]

I'll bet the koran is welcome though.

[Stoat]

I'll bet the koran is welcome though.

I have no doubt that you're absolutely correct. 

[television is just wrong]

Muslims are given classroom space to pray on public school grounds during school days.

Discrimination on the basis of religion, one of our most basic rights this nation was founded on.

[gulfcoast6]

They always said the fall of America was to destroy the schools, courts and churches. They are doing a good job at it, Eh?

[Stoat]

Muslims are given classroom space to pray on public school grounds during school days.

Just a wild guess....I'm suspecting that the same courtesy and respect is not given to Christian or Jewish children in Arab countries.

Discrimination on the basis of religion, one of our most basic rights this nation was founded on.

Do I understand that you mean to say FREEDOM FROM DISCRIMINATION on the basis of religion?

[television is just wrong]

Yes, that is what I meant. It is 2:15am here and I cannot sleep tinnitus is acting up so here I sit.

Sorry.

[Stoat]

Yes, that is what I meant. It is 2:15am here and I cannot sleep tinnitus is acting up so here I sit.

Sorry.

No need to apologize, I understand completely.  I'm very sorry to hear of your tinnitus...may God Bless you and I wish you comfort and freedom from this terrible condition.  Best of luck to you.

[television is just wrong]

Thanks, and God Bless you too.

[freepatriot32]

Libertarian ping.To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here

[Stoat]

Thank you very much for pinging your list   :-)

 

[expatguy]

They always said the fall of America was to destroy the schools, courts and churches. They are doing a good job at it, Eh?

Socialism is not far behind.

An American Expat in Southeast Asia

[gulfcoast6]

With the help of the ACLU, we are getting there.

[Lazamataz]

SEPERATION OF CHURCH AND STATE

STAT-FORCED ATHEISM

[Lazamataz]

stat=state

[Stoat]

STAT-FORCED ATHEISM

Hopefully this matter is only the result of one particularly hysterical, Leftist Principal who is overreaching his / her authority and is not a reflection of State  jurisprudence.  I would be very disappointed with our Tennessee Friends if they had allowed their State Legislature to fall so very far off the deep end   :-)

[freepatriot32]

ping

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

The NORMAL parents should boycott the school......

When the teachers get laid off, the freedom of religion would return quickly.

[freepatriot32]

no problem happy to do it

[freeangel]

"I'll bet the koran is welcome though"

The kids probably have to memorize a verse a day out of it too.