Letter: Kids should be allowed to have Bibles in schools

So long ago, Bibles were widely used in schools all around the world.

Subjects like reading, grammar, history and even math were taught out of the Bible. The Bible even taught the children various life skills like respect and love.

In 2004, a young boy from a Seattle elementary school took out his Bible every recess to read with some of his friends until a parent complained. The principal took away the Bible and stated, "While we do not discourage students from reading at recess, I think that a daily planned activity that is stationary and physically static in nature defeats the real purpose of recess."

Do you honestly think the parent and principal would have complained if it had been any other book? Just last March, a three judge panel from the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the little boy's rights were not violated when the principal told him to put away his Bible.

However, in my opinion, this event did violate the boy's rights. What happened to our freedom of speech or our freedom of religion (Bill of Rights, Amendment I)? Today, in the US alone, there are more than 3 million high school dropouts. Have you ever thought why this is?

I strongly believe that if students were able to simply have Bible studies with their friends during recess, without getting into any sort of trouble, there would be far fewer school dropouts.

Students could receive religious guidance that is very much needed in today's society.

Let's encourage freedom of religion and freedom of speech in our schools. Our children need to have a greater voice; let them!

Courtney Hendrix

Marysville