I typically blog news items and then move on, but have to admit I'm a little stuck on the news posted yesterday about Wilson County's (TN) settlement of a dispute over the distribution of Gideon Bibles to fifth-graders. It really bugs me, in a way that I can't quite put my finger on, but here's a try: 2 thoughts that are rattling around.
1) Giving public school kids Bibles, in the building, during the school day? Still? Of all the old traditions in public schools that we have managed to get beyond – from mandatory Bible readings to prayers in the classroom or over the loud speakers – why would any school official in the year 2010 think it might be acceptable to have an organized assembly during the school day dedicated to passing out Bibles to young children? And to be sure, this incident was apparently not a case of allowing Gideons on school grounds and simply not monitoring them properly. Here, the principal reportedly made a speech to the kids of the personal importance of such Bibles to her own life before having them "choose" whether to go through the line and pick one up.
Depending on school district policy, the issue of distribution of religious advertisements from community organizations can – I suppose – be tricky at times. But a line like this one is not an especially tough one to draw. I am glad the Board decided to end the practice, and save the taxpayers of Wilson County a potentially expensive, surely losing, lawsuit. But religious freedom controversies are not new, and certainly not new to this Tennessee district. How can school officials in this day and age still let something like that happen? And how often does it still go on unchallenged? Are there still public schools out there reciting the Lord's Prayer in the morning as well?
2) What the heck is wrong with Gideon's? Certainly they, of all groups, understand the law on this issue. And yet they are still apparently willing to step in and walk a school district all the way to certain lawsuits and legal fees. What kind of religious organization doesn't apprise those it serves of the damage that will almost surely follow if allowed to go through with its plans? Why not devise a nationwide strategy that at least attempts to work with school districts to search for a legal time, place and manner of making materials available to students and families that want them, if such is available. Why not take the lead in decrying the improper, illegal distribution of Bibles to children during the school day? Do school districts ask their advice on the legality of their request for access to students? How do they respond? Why does Gideon's seem so willing to wreak havoc on public school communities and taxpayers, and in the name of religion? Do their representatives admit to school administrators: your legal trouble is worth it for our heavenly reward? Or do they just hope nobody asks until the damage is done?
I'm not suggesting there is some legal responsibility on their part. I don't know about that. But it sure feels like they bear at least a portion of every other kind of responsibility for controversies like this one. I guess that's ok with them? School officials, beware.
