School backtracks, will allow Bible reading

School backtracks, will allow Bible reading
3rd-grader had been told Scriptures not allowed in classroom

School officials in Chicago have backtracked on their ban on Bible reading during free "reading time" for a third grade class, assuring the student's parents that their ban based on the bogus separation of church and state was nothing more than a "misunderstanding."

Rhajheem Haymon was silently reading his Bible as his classmates pored over the reading materials of their choice when his substitute teacher informed him that he could not read that particular book in the classroom.

Aware his parents desired that all of the Haymon children read their Bible every day, Rhajheem went home that day and informed them he was no longer allowed to do so.

When Rhajheem's father, Leslie Haymon, followed up with questions to a substitute teacher and other school officials, they confirmed that Rhajheem was not allowed to read the Bible during reading time, as the church and state must remain separate in the classroom.

Haymon then called Thomas More Law Center, a national public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Mich., which defends and promotes the religious freedom of Christians through education, litigation, and related activities.

Edward L. White III, trial counsel with the center, immediately sent school officials a demand letter on behalf of the family.

He explained the United States Supreme Court and the United States Department of Education have assured that students are free to express their religious views while at school, a freedom that includes a student's choice to read religious materials in appropriate times at school.

"The law is clear here," White explained to WND, "And not only the case law; a few years back, the Department of Education shipped out guidelines concerning constitutionally protected religious activities, which say that students may pray and read their Bibles with other students in non-instructional times."

"During lunch, a student is free to talk about how well the Chicago Cubs are doing, just as another kid is free to talk about Jesus. During reading time, when students are reading 'Harry Potter' or whatever else, Rhajheem has the right to read his Bible to himself," White stated.

White also noted in his letter that a public school may not suppress or exclude the speech or expression of individual students for the sole reason that the speech is religious or contains a religious perspective.

"A lot of times what we experience is that there's a knee-jerk reaction against anything religious and generally dealing with Christianity," said White. "School officials forget that these sorts of actions are by private individuals, not by teachers trained to tread carefully in matters of the church and state."

"Even a third-grader is a private citizen with constitutional rights," he continued.

Soon after receiving the letter, the school district sent written assurances that Rhajheem could bring his Bible to school and read it at appropriate times during the school day.

White said the letter essentially tried to smooth over the situation, advising, "Regardless of whatever happened, of course he's able to read his Bible, as long as he's not disruptive."

In a statement, Leslie Haymon expressed his thanks for White's assistance. "I thank [the Thomas More Law Center] for protecting our rights as Christians and as Americans. I thank God for the work of the Thomas More Law Center," he said.