Ithaca Teachers Prevent 6th Grader from Reading Bible During Lunch

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Just received the following in an email from a member of the school board here in Ithaca, NY, liberal haven and home of Cornell University.

"A sixth grader recently took a Bible to [middle school] and was reading it in the library and at lunch. Two different teachers told the child that having and reading a Bible at public school is illegal and improper and that the Bible would have to be put away out of sight.

"That teachers can still think it illegal to carry and read a Bible or other religious writing at school surprises me. Is there any statement a teachers' manual about such things? Is it covered in any kind of orientation or whatever?"

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Let's imagine a female pupil had been reading a book entitled "Wicca Women Witches are Powerful!" Think it would have been confiscated?

[Mr. Mulliner]

Good for the teachers! I'm sure this kid was scheming to establish a state religion on his lunch break. NEA-trained teachers are too clever to let that happen. </sarcasm>

[Mr. Mulliner]

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[Mr. Mulliner]

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[governsleastgovernsbest]

Here's another "Moment in Multiculturalsim", courtesy of the Ithaca school system. Elementary school students are graded on their "respect for other cultures, genders, experiences and abilities."

[Mr. Mulliner]

Somehow I think this school is going to hear from the ACLJ and Jay Sekulow. They need a lesson in the Constitution, it sounds like.

[dell Arpa]

Wow. This sounds too stupid even for Ithaca. Any other sources?

[governsleastgovernsbest]

That would be interesting. Despite Ithaca's small size, its relatively high profile, because of Cornell's presence, might make for a good test case.

[Mr. Mulliner]

Actually, ACLJ takes on cases like this all the time and they have these schools for lunch. They will have this school backpedaling so fast they'll trip overthemselves (to mix metaphors just a bit).

[governsleastgovernsbest]

If you're asking whether I have other sources for confirming that this happened, no. But I know the school board member well and am confident that he is giving a true account.

Note my reply above regarding elementary kids being graded on their multicultural sensitivity. I have seen the printed report card personally. I think that tends to confirm the prevailing official attitude in the school system.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Please feel free to alert them.

[D. Miles]

I suppose had the child been reading Playboy, that would have been okay! That teacher should be thanking their lucky stars that this child is not mine!

[Junior]

Sounds a bit like an urban legend that made the rounds about five or six years ago...

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Reading Playboy would have been equally bad in the liberal mindset, since it is "offensive to women". However, as suggested above, if she had been reading a book about witchcraft extolling the "power of sisterhood", I'm sure no one would have objected!

[Mr. Mulliner]

Here's the website for ACLJ (The American Center for Law and Justice). I suggest that since you received the e-mail, you get the contact information and send it on to the school board member who sent the e-mail. The ACLJ is much more likely to get involved if they hear from a school board member.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

This is not an urban legend. This is based on an email received this morning from an elected member of the Ithaca School Board regarding an event that recently occurred in the Ithaca school system. He provided specific details in his message that I have not included here as to the specific school involved and an indication as to the identity of the teachers.

[Tennessee_Bob]

HOORAY!!!!!! Another future fundementalist terrorist stopped in his tracks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

/sarcasm

[Diogenesis]

Seems reasonable. Only the Koran is allowed in the school,

with prayer rugs available five times a day.

[Rustynailww]

Islamic teaching in 1000 public schools?

[Mr. Mulliner]

Sounds a bit like an urban legend that made the rounds about five or six years ago...

Hey, skepticism is good sometimes, but if you'd read what was said here, you wouldn't have to look like an idiot for saying that this looked like an urban legend. If this guy knows the school board member who reported it, how does that sound like an urban legend?