Ithaca Teachers Prevent 6th Grader from Reading Bible During Lunch

[AngrySpud]

Haven't these teachers ever heard of "the Bible as literature"? I'll betcha the school library even has a Bible in the reference section.

[KeyBored]

"Sounds a bit like an urban legend . . ."

That's right. Stuff like this never happens in the good ol' US(S)A.

'Specially in Ithaca, NY.

[Mr. Mulliner]

I'll betcha the school library even has a Bible in the reference section.

Don't bet on it. I've heard of plenty of schools that have removed Bibles from the library. Even if it's there, there's absolutely no reason to think that this kid can only read the Bible as literature. He can read it as divine inspiration and the school can't stop him. They may think they can, but they'll soon find differently.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

And by the way, I should have mentioned that the email quoted above that I received from the school board member was a cc of an email he had sent to the superintendent of our local school system.

That is why the quoted message asks: "Is there any statement a teachers' manual about such things? Is it covered in any kind of orientation or whatever?"

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Thanks, KB. It's not exactly as if I had posted something about 17-ft. Nile crocodiles in our sewer system that are used to remove kidneys from drunken college students, which are then sold on EBay!

[mewzilla]

I'd like those teachers to have to show this pupil, his/her parents, and the school board at a public meeting, just where in tarnation the law is on the books that makes it ILLEGAL to take a Bible to school.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

I think what has happened in this and similar cases is that teachers are poorly educated themselves regarding the Establishment Clause of the Constitution. They confuse the notion that government should not establish a state religion, with the idea that government should not permit the practice of religion in public places.

Of course, in doing so, they ignore the second half of the Establishment Clause, which provides that government shall not prohibit the free exercise of religion.

Couple that ignorance with a culture among many in the educational establishment of animosity to traditional religions, and you get situations such as that described today.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

It's not exactly as if I had posted something about 17-ft. Nile crocodiles in our sewer system that are used to remove kidneys from drunken college students, which are then sold on EBay!

Heck, everybody knows about the crocs in the Ithaca sewer system.

[mewzilla]

You know what? I think you're being TOO flipping kind. Ignorance is not an excuse to deprive someone of their rights (and I know you're not saying it is, I'm just steamed.)

But since no-one is abiout to arrest these teachers on civil rights charges (they're lucky they were picking on Christians), then I think humiliation at a public meeting would go a long way to clearing up the problem.

[70times7]

In the paternalistic nanny state of confusion (also known as NY) this is, unfortunately, no surprise.

I listened to a radio presentation this morning that made an extremely strong case that our nation was founded specifically as a Christian nation, and that the first amendment establishment clause was to prohibit governmental institutionalization of any particular denomination. (BTW, Do you know who wrote the first amendment? I didn't; it wasn't Jefferson)

They also pointed out that our publicly educated children are being taught facts, and how to learn, but not how to THINK. The election of Ms. Clinton to the Senate is ample proof that many in New York have a tough time thinking.

The sad truth is that our educators (and many others)are either grossly ignorant or actively hostile to Christianity (or both).

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Please be assured that we will not let this rest. Among other things, it will be discussed on a local cable access TV show this week.

[rocketdoc]

One would hope that all Dua (supplemental Islamic Prayer Materials in Addition to Korans Torba and prayer rug would also be not authorized on the school grounds. Are there rooms being provided for Salat/Prayer? The schools around here tried to do that number and there was a massive revolt with parents threatening to contact at ACLJ on the spot. The teachers were muzzeled at once. Concerned citizens should check into what their schools are doing this Ramadan.

[FR_addict]

Thanks for bring this to our attention.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

bump

[governsleastgovernsbest]

My point here is that people should be free to practice their religion without improper government interference. Obviously if a Muslim child wanted to read the Koran at lunch time, or a Jewish child the Talmud, they should be perfectly free to do so. Again, government should stop confusing practice of religion with establishment of religion.

[ConservativeLibrarian]

markfnkl, thanks for posting this, but how about some follow-up: Since the e-mail was third-hand information from a school-board member, it would stand to reason that the school-board has been alerted to this absurdity. What is the board doing about it? What kind of follow-up is being engaged in?

[Patria One]

Is there a rule against reading at the table in the lunchroom?

[70times7]

Find a Christian radio station in your area that carries Jay Sekulo's (sp?) ACLJ broadcast. ACLJ - American Center for Law and Justice - has a web site - do a search. Just listen for a week or two and you will get a true earful of what is going on. NY is at the higher end of hostile in that even after some institutions have been sued successfully by the ACLJ they continue with the illegal actions that got them sued in the first place.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

As mentioned above in one of my replies, the email I received this morning was a cc of the email that the concerned school board member had sent to the superintendent of schools. He was asking whether the teachers' manual or teachers orientation doesn't cover this matter, making clear the students' right to read religious materials during lunch and other breaks.

So the follow-up process is under way. I'll keep informed and report back with any interesting developments.

[xkaydet65]

The teachers in Ithaca are American Federation of Teachers NOT NEA. In years past when Al Shanker ran the union its only purpose was the improvement of wages and working conditions, not the feel good mumbo jumbo of the NEA. Lately however the AFT has mimicked its more numerous cousin the NEA.Working in the public schools of NYC what happened in Ithaca does not surprise me. Teachers have questioned me about being to overtly Catholic in my public attitudes, like wearing a medal that is visible and actually answering student questions about its significance to me.

This is not all bad however. H. Richard Niebohr wrote in a wonderful book called Christ and Culture that the Faith is at its most vibrant and meaningful when it is practiced by at a time when belief runs counter to prevailing culture.The converse also seems to be true. When the Faith is the total culture the avenue is opened for corruption of belief. The Middle Ages are an excellent example, as even most of us Catholics admit that Luther had valid and important criticisms to make about Church practice. Nevertheless, that young man will keep reading his Bible and know that he is in Good Company, even if the elites say otherwise. Like all Christians his belief against the tide of opinion is a spiritual reminder of Saint Stephen's Faith and Sacrifice. A man and an event all followers of Christ should remember.