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Free reading time sounds like it means you can read whatever you choose. Including Hitler's Mien Kampf. Although I imagine that would be banned, right?
I'm not certain what age a person can fully comprehend books such as Mien Kampf and The Communist Manifesto, but we should be encouraging everyone to read them at some point. How can we have honest debate without knowledge?? To be reasonable, an elementary teacher should not permit a book about bomb building or The Kama Sutra, but banning the reading of The Bible, The Torah, The Kuran, or The Vedas is hostile intolerance towards religion.
The point I was trying to make is about which books do you decide are acceptable for 'free reading'? Some might say that young children cannot comprehend The Bible, but allow them to read something else they cannot comprehend.
Who decides what is appropriate reading material?
Free reading time sounds like it means you can read whatever you choose. Including Hitler's Mien Kampf. Although I imagine that would be banned, right?
I'm not certain what age a person can fully comprehend books such as Mien Kampf and The Communist Manifesto, but we should be encouraging everyone to read them at some point. How can we have honest debate without knowledge?? To be reasonable, an elementary teacher should not permit a book about bomb building or The Kama Sutra, but banning the reading of The Bible, The Torah, The Kuran, or The Vedas is hostile intolerance towards religion.
The point I was trying to make is about which books do you decide are acceptable for 'free reading'? Some might say that young children cannot comprehend The Bible, but allow them to read something else they cannot comprehend.
Who decides what is appropriate reading material?
I disagree with the teacher's actions for two reasons: (1) Allowing ALL books EXCEPT religious ones to be read during the free reading period constitutes a violation of the U.S. Constitutional; and (2) The young boy was in the fifth grade and children at that stage should be encouraged to read. The Bible was the child's favorite book and the teacher should have been delighted that he found a book which captured his interest. The following is from the link provided:
“Giovanni Rubeo is a fifth-grade student at the school, who had been given a Bible at church as a Christmas gift. It’s his favorite book, so he decided he’d like to read it during the time in class where students are allowed to read anything they choose.
“Swornia Thomas is Giovanni’s teacher. On April 8, Thomas told Giovanni he’s not allowed to read the Bible in her class and ordered him to put it away. Giovanni asked her to call his father, Paul Rubeo, about the incident.
“Thomas did so, leaving a voicemail that included, “I noticed that he [Giovanni] has a book—a religious book—in the classroom. He’s not permitted to read those books in my classroom.” Rubeo then contacted the school’s principal, Orinthia Dias, who brought in the school’s legal department. None of them are willing to acknowledge that Giovanni has a constitutional right to read the Bible.”
FL Teacher Banned Bible from 'Free Reading' Time in Classroom
I don't see any gray areas concerning the violation of the child’s First Amendment rights. While no child has a Constitutional right to read the Bible during a class such as math or even a study period (students are usually instructed that the study period is for school work only), excluding religious books from a class when all other literature is permitted - whether related to school work or not – will not pass constitutional muster. At least not in my humble opinion.
"The Broward School District claimed it was told Giovanni was reading the Bible when he should have been reading an assigned book, not during free-reading time. The district stressed that any student may read the Bible, or any other religious book, during free time."
Teacher?s Bible Ban In Class Sparks Protest & Change « CBS Miami
"I just can't quite grasp that this one teacher has the authority to decide that a religious book cannot be read in her class. It seems like the system would have a policy on this??"
Teachers are authority figures and are in charge of the class room and its activities, within the guidelines of the school district handbook.
If it was free time, the teacher was wrong. If there was an assigned book to read, then it was not free time, and the teacher was right.
I know a teacher in an East Texas school district in her fourth grade class has a picture of Jesus surrounded by lambs on the wall next to her desk. Each lamb has the face of one of the children in her class.
Is that going over the line?
you dont have the right to free speech in schools....youve been told this over and over again.
There's that "NO LAW" part you always have difficulty with
Greece, NY
Justices allow public prayers at New York town's council meetings - CNN.com
What's the difference
The child has the right to have a bible. He is allowed to assemble before and after school in a group on school grounds. Not during. (Granted he didn't here).Giovanni Rubeo is a fifth-grade student at the school, who had been given a Bible at church as a Christmas gift. Its his favorite book, so he decided hed like to read it during the time in class where students are allowed to read anything they choose.
A good teacher would support a child's choice, especially if it's encouraging them to READ. She should keep her personal opinion out of it, and if the religious aspect bothers her, then just take the stance that many other people do and view it as a piece of literature. Mostly I think she's a bitch for attempting to humiliate and shame a child for his choice in front of his classmates...teaching that practicing faith should be something done in secret for fear of offending others.
The child has the right to have a bible. He is allowed to assemble before and after school in a group on school grounds. Not during. (Granted he didn't here).Giovanni Rubeo is a fifth-grade student at the school, who had been given a Bible at church as a Christmas gift. Its his favorite book, so he decided hed like to read it during the time in class where students are allowed to read anything they choose.
A good teacher would support a child's choice, especially if it's encouraging them to READ. She should keep her personal opinion out of it, and if the religious aspect bothers her, then just take the stance that many other people do and view it as a piece of literature. Mostly I think she's a bitch for attempting to humiliate and shame a child for his choice in front of his classmates...teaching that practicing faith should be something done in secret for fear of offending others.
He does not have the right to free speech in public schools.
Is the teacher being silly over a book? Yes but there is no free speech issue here.
The Dept. of Education maintains that students have the right to read their bibles at school.
So bugger off.
Tell you what thumper, don't pray in our schools and I won't think in your church
Greece, NY
Justices allow public prayers at New York town's council meetings - CNN.com
What's the difference
One doesn't promote a religion...and is just a general prayer...
Greece, NY
Justices allow public prayers at New York town's council meetings - CNN.com
What's the difference
One doesn't promote a religion...and is just a general prayer...
In both cases....exactly my point
yes to the whims of the school system, well slightly.The child has the right to have a bible. He is allowed to assemble before and after school in a group on school grounds. Not during. (Granted he didn't here).A good teacher would support a child's choice, especially if it's encouraging them to READ. She should keep her personal opinion out of it, and if the religious aspect bothers her, then just take the stance that many other people do and view it as a piece of literature. Mostly I think she's a bitch for attempting to humiliate and shame a child for his choice in front of his classmates...teaching that practicing faith should be something done in secret for fear of offending others.
He does not have the right to free speech in public schools.
Is the teacher being silly over a book? Yes but there is no free speech issue here.
I think you may be mistaking greater restrictions on speech being allowed to a total suppression of speech. School children are not entirely denied free speech, they are just somewhat more restricted in that speech while in school, is my understanding.
From the link above..."The Broward School District claimed it was told Giovanni was reading the Bible when he should have been reading an assigned book, not during free-reading time. The district stressed that any student may read the Bible, or any other religious book, during free time."
Teacher?s Bible Ban In Class Sparks Protest & Change « CBS Miami
CBS4′s Gaby Fleischman stopped by Mrs. Thomas home. Her husband told us she was not there and asked: What the [expletive] do you want?
Gaby responded that we want to speak to Mrs. Thomas to hear her side of the story.
She aint got nothing to say to you, she aint got nothing to say, responded her husband. Get me on camera, get the [expletive] out of my yard.
The child has the right to have a bible. He is allowed to assemble before and after school in a group on school grounds. Not during. (Granted he didn't here).Giovanni Rubeo is a fifth-grade student at the school, who had been given a Bible at church as a Christmas gift. Its his favorite book, so he decided hed like to read it during the time in class where students are allowed to read anything they choose.
A good teacher would support a child's choice, especially if it's encouraging them to READ. She should keep her personal opinion out of it, and if the religious aspect bothers her, then just take the stance that many other people do and view it as a piece of literature. Mostly I think she's a bitch for attempting to humiliate and shame a child for his choice in front of his classmates...teaching that practicing faith should be something done in secret for fear of offending others.
He does not have the right to free speech in public schools.
Is the teacher being silly over a book? Yes but there is no free speech issue here.
The child has the right to have a bible. He is allowed to assemble before and after school in a group on school grounds. Not during. (Granted he didn't here).A good teacher would support a child's choice, especially if it's encouraging them to READ. She should keep her personal opinion out of it, and if the religious aspect bothers her, then just take the stance that many other people do and view it as a piece of literature. Mostly I think she's a bitch for attempting to humiliate and shame a child for his choice in front of his classmates...teaching that practicing faith should be something done in secret for fear of offending others.
He does not have the right to free speech in public schools.
Is the teacher being silly over a book? Yes but there is no free speech issue here.
If it was free reading time, and he wasn't reading out loud, then there should not be an issue.
