Some parents at a local middle school say people are pushing religion on their children and they say it’s happening too close to school grounds. We have the latest on the debate over religion in schools. The Gideons were giving out bibles to students on the sidewalk outside Nellie N. Coffman Middle School in Cathedral City.
Kids say they were handing the bibles without saying what they were. When parents picked them up, some felt offended, saying the bibles had been pushed on them on school grounds.
It’s a little book that causes so much controversy when it gets close to this a public middle school.
A mother and daughter spoke to us about the Gideons, who they say were handing out bibles to students. Witnesses say they came by Nellie Coffman as kids got off school.
"All they did was put it in my hand and said ‘this is a gift for you for the day’ and they never mentioned what it was," 8th grader Ariana Wilson told us.
Three families tell NewsChannel 3 they were offended when their kids came home with bibles in hand.
"They’re targeting minors, not giving parents materials to give to their children. It’s not their job to skip mom and dad and go straight to the kids," said Airana’s mother, Rachele. [Source]
Well since this didn’t actually happen on school property maybe the parents can push congress to enact a Federal Bible-Free School Zones act.
15 comments
Perhaps I’m paranoid, but these parents might be disturbed that strangers spoke to and interacted with their children outside of school property, regardless of what the “gift” was.
Catholics will only become upset about this kind of stuff when it becomes tracts from CHICK. publications. The “old-timey” Protestant version that the Gideon’s give out has no place in the public school!! Haven’t we Catholics learned that the most effective ways to expose our kids to the Word are 1.-at home
2.-during Liturgy
3.-in Catholic school
LET’S NOT JOIN FORCES WITH THE BIBLE WHACKERS!!!
I think it’s pretty funny that they live in Cathedral City but object to something that would be found in any Cathedral or parish. I guess they’ll have to change it to Auditorium City or Gathering Space City pretty soon now.
One time this kid in the youth group (Catholic) I was working with brought me a Psalms/Proverbs/New Testament little Bibilette some kids had given him at school. He asked me if it was okay. I started this long explanation about how we don’t really buy into the salvation prayer stuff they print on the inside covers, and why, and what we do believe, etc. After a minute he said, “So it’s okay except for the pages at the front and the back?” I said yes and he ripped them off and put it in his pocket. It’s a handy size, I carry one around too.
Someday I’ll probably get fined for reading on the subway.
“It’s not their job to skip mom and dad and go straight to the kids,” said Airana’s mother, Rachele.”
Unless mom and dad are Christians and the subject in sex ed. Then we’ll make it literally illegal for mom and dad to object and have their kids sit out.
They were coming out of a public school, it is a wonder they could read them at all.
“They’re targeting minors, …” said Airana’s mother, Rachele
“They were coming out of a public school, it is a wonder they could read them at all.”
LOL
I have a great idea for those who are offended by the distribution of Gideon Bibles. Throw them away! Or just leave them somewhere for someone else to pick up.
I know most public schools stink, but I would put my towns kids up against any parochial schools kids in academics. I come from a small midwestern town 5000 people the nearest large town is 120000 people 70 miles away. There isn’t a Catholic School within 70 miles of our town and I would bet that the kids here know more about morals than most Parochial school kids in Larger cities. Small towns have an immense innocence. we have 1200 kids in our school system. Superintendent is Catholic, HS principle is Catholic, Both elementary Principals are Catholic and the Middle school Principal is Catholic. Most of the teachers are either practicing Catholics, luterans or conervative evangelicals. The BIBLE is read in our public school. The pledge of allegicance is said (with the word GOD) every day in every class and if a chld wants to read aloud for reading time and it happens to be the bible then it is OK. AND my youngest son is in 1st grade and he was reading chapter books BEFORE the end of Kinder and he is an average kid. They don’t call them the Iowa tests of basic skills for nothing people!!! Or the Iowa tests for educational development. The tests are used to guage how stupid the rest of the country’s kids are compared to iowa kids. Just my rant and two cents worth. Just because its public doesn’t mean it aint any good.
I hope the parents were very clear with the kids that the Bibles were dangerous, and not to read them. Cause these are middle-school kids. Bibles could become the new cool, rebellious thing.
No! Not that!
Paed,
I am sorry you mistook my comment for something serious, I meant it in the spirit of the website, as a jest. Too bad you didn’t take it that way.
Oh no! Bibles! You could get a papercut! The horror!
When I was in fifth grade during the 1985-86 school year, the Gideons actually came to our class. Yes, it was a public school. Although I couldn’t really understand the King James New Testament that they passed out, it sparked an interest in the Word of God that was a stepping stone to my entry into the Catholic Church. So, while I don’t line up theologically with the Gideons, I’m thankful that they were there.