Should a public school teacher have a Bible on display?

Question

I'm trying to look at this from a legal standpoint, as the Assistant Principal and Principal have given a verbal directive for teachers to remove Bibles from their desk or bookshelf. And I'm not sure if this is violating a freedom of expression or religion. Could someone get fired for not following such a directive?
Thank you for whatever help you may provide

Answer 1

There is nothing that would prevent a teacher from having a Bible or any major religious text in the classroom. Of course, if you are teaching Math or early grades, you couldn't claim that it was part of the class library. I fortunately taught History and Geography, so I had a number of major texts: the Bible, the Qu'ran, Confucius' Analects, the Upanishads, and the Tao. Being a Christian, I would sometimes read the Bible, but it went back on the shelf or into a drawer.

I really wonder about these people who say there is no religion in the school. We have to teach major religions -- it's part of the curriculum. I am not allowed to make students participate in religious rites, as if I would, but they learn about the important beliefs of each one and the historical context. I try to get my students to realize why people are attracted to these religions, in a positive way. It's important to get children to understand other viewpoints and be tolerant. Having taught in very multi-cultural schools, kids of each religion would be so happy and proud that they were represented and that I had done a good job of presenting their beliefs. Now I live in a part of the US that is very negative toward Christianity. I do not teach anymore. The rep from the state department of education actually advised people to make sure that there is no indication of any Christian connections on our resumes! I went to a college with a very, very Christian name, so I'm branded, I guess! Keep your Bible in your desk. The way you act is your best witness. I really can't see that it is legal to tell this to teachers, but administrations have to deal with some very paranoid parents and just don't want the hassle.

Answer 2

I just completed a School Law course at the Graduate level. This exact issue was brought up-personal reading material.
It's not an issue of academic freedom or religious expression if the teacher is reading the Bible, Torah, Koran, or any other religious reading material on his/her own time. If the teacher is NOT using this material as a teaching tool, then it has no bearing whether the book is on the desk, on the bookshelf, or in the teacher's totebag. No-you cannot get fired for it-and if so the teacher is eligible for a due process hearing. There are legal issues that set the precedent for religious paraphanalia in the schools. Someone made a comment out a book on Satanism-or what if it were a book about Wicca? Again, if it not a teaching tool, then the teacher can't be fired. Granted, the teacher should probably not make an issue over it and just put the book out of sight. The teacher really should not argue with their superior.

Answer 3

As an atheist, I think there is no harm in having a bible on a bookshelf. I have a bible, a Quran, and a few other religious texts on my bookshelf at home. They sit alongside the rest of the historical fiction and mythology books. I encourage everyone to read the bible, it is a great source of insight into how distorted the judeochristian religious cults are. I wish more christian cult members would actually read the bible, cover to cover and think about what it actually says in there. With the large number of deaths and murders, the stoning of children and women, the god character betting with the devil character on how to ruin a man's life, etc, it shows the cults for what they really are. Most christians think they know what the ten commandments are, but they don't know that there are several different versions. The version they commonly accept is not the final version, and was destroyed in the story exodus. The final version in exodus 34 is quite different from what is commonly held up as the ten commandments. So, why do they follow the wrong set of commandments? Because they only go by what their parents or pastor tells them, not by what the book actually says, since they haven't actually read it. Books should be read, not held up as symbols or as magical creations, but sources of information that should be thought about critically.

Answer 4

I have a Bible on display in my classroom, but then again I'm an English teacher. At the beginning of the year, I tell my students that I have it in my classroom because it is one of the most often alluded to pieces of literature in the world. Whether or not they believe in it, they should be aware of the stories in it so that they will be able to understand Biblical allusions in our classroom texts and others they'll read in the future.

It really depends on the context of the teacher's discipline. I can see the necessity of an English or Social Studies teacher having a Bible in the classroom. However, I can't see a context in which a Math teacher would need it. At that point, I might become concerned about the teacher preaching and violating the First Amendment rights of his/her students.

Answer 5

Why should they have personal items on display? I would think that anything they bring with them for their own use should be stashed away. That includes purses, bibles or what have you.

If they've purposely put the bible on display, they're clearly trying to make a statement and that should come into question.

I don't think they should be fired for it, nor should they be forced to hide them. But they don't belong on display unless they're teaching a class on book-binding or something.

EDIT: I've decided to add to this. A teacher doing this may be feeling the need to express themselves. Why should they be allowed to do so when the students cannot? Many schools don't allow t-shirts with slogans. The teacher is not there for him or herself - they're there for the students. What they may want for themselves doesn't matter.

Answer 6

When the sixth Harry Potter book came out last year, I brought my copy to school to read on my lunch breaks. Suddenly, my class were all reading Harry Potter.

Kids are impressionable, and displaying a book on your bookshelf or desk is a tacit endorsement of that book. Thus, you have to be very careful about books such as the Bible, so that you are not seen as indoctrinating the students.

Answer 7

As long as the Bible wasn't on an alter, or a part of the curriculum. Is it a banned book>?

Some schools have banned it due to violence and sex. But it can't be banned on religious grounds.

And if you say that your religion want you to keep the scriptures close for your own personal faith, and you feel it would be wrong to stick the book in the desk. You might have a lawsuit. But they can fire you for not complying.

In La Cresent Minnesota a teacher was fired because she didn't shave her legs, how do you like that!

Answer 8

many point to make and have to be quick

first off church and state was designed to help maintain religious freedom in our country. if the line wasn't drawn it would be possible for a national religion to push other smaller religions out. as a country founded by peoples that had be persecuted in Europe for the religious beliefs they realized the only way to insure all people could live by their own religious beliefs was to forever separate them.

second. over the last 20 years we have seen a increase in removing religion and even personal beliefs form the work place. the thought it that you are represention a company at that time and there beliefs not your own personal. I believe it was Kant that wrote the essay concerning public and private self. in it he talked about how we must represent our work in while in the public and only be "our selves" while behind closed doors.

while i dont agree with students not being able to bring religous items to school to read during free time, i have to agree with teacher and anyone else in a position of athority not displaying them. it could distract from whats truly important... creating a positive learning envorment.

Answer 9

Probably. There is a reason for separation between church and state, that's why it's in the constitution. And religion is a personal choice and freedom and should definately not be on display in a place with impressionable young kids. Unless it was done objectively, with the Koran, book of Mormon, and Yi Qing next to it. Or an antique bible during a history class.

Answer 10

Teachers give up some of their right of free expression in the classroom. One thing you cannot do is proselytize religion. Having a Bible on display crosses the line.