What do you think? My son was handed a New Testament today between the front door of the school and the school bus. On school property.
I'm not sure if I'm more upset that the school might have agreed to allow this to happen, or if they were allowing children to be accosted on the way to their buses. Either way, what were they thinking?
Am I right to be upset? If they allowed these people to be handing them out, will they soon be allowing other religions to be passing out similar materials? If they didn't give these people permission, should I be upset at the level of security they have on the school grounds?
[ November 21, 2005, 03:15 PM: Message edited by: Kayla ]
Posted by cheiros do ender (Member # 8849) on :
What exactly is wrong with a book that gives you the chance to understand a large number of other peoples beliefs? Plus, it's not like they HAD to take it.
i don't see what handing out New Testament's has to do with "security they have on school grounds".
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Used to happen all the time at my HS. They did it just outside the school grounds, where everyone left to be picked up.
Posted by pfresh85 (Member # 8085) on :
I sort of agree with cheiros do ender. Unless it was forced into your son's hands, there shouldn't be a problem with it.
Posted by cheiros do ender (Member # 8849) on :
Outside school grounds would be worse, IMO. It'd be like a stranger in a car offering you candy in a way. At least on school grounds the act can be supervised and there's lots of people around.
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
Who did the handing?
Posted by Sopwith (Member # 4640) on :
Sadly, it really depends on the age of the children as to whether forced into their hands or coerced there has any bearing. A young kid will take just about anything, I'd guess.
I have no problem with the New Testament, and I'd love for everyone to have one and read it. I'd hope they grew from it.
But...
What if it had been a manifesto from the Klan? Or a pamphlet on how to buy drugs? Or even pornography?
I hate to use a slippery slope argument, but perhaps they shouldn't be handing out anything that isn't school related on school grounds, just to be safe.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Same thing happened at my high school. Twice a year or so they'd hand out bibles maybe three feet away from school grounds, but at the intersection everyone HAD to go through to get home.
A third of the kids tossed them in their backpacks, a third just said no, and a third took them and ripped them up throwing the pages all over the place causing a giant mess.
If you ask me, it's a waste of bibles. Kids who weren't interested before won't be interested now. Heck, they don't even want to do their homework, why would they start reading the bible?
Posted by Kayla (Member # 2403) on :
No, it was put directly into his hand.
quote: i don't see what handing out New Testament's has to do with "security they have on school grounds".
You don't have a problem with strange men on school grounds? How many pedophiles do you think have moved on from "can you help me find my puppy?" to "have you been saved?" Do you think the school did background checks on these people, or did they just allow recently released prisoners on school grounds?
quote: What exactly is wrong with a book that gives you the chance to understand a large number of other peoples beliefs?
I already have the New Testament in my house. Along with the Old Testament and the Book of Mormon. So, is it only okay because it's a "large number of other peoples beliefs"? What if it were a Muslim tract, or Wiccan? Pagans? Where would you draw the line?
Posted by Kayla (Member # 2403) on :
quote: Who did the handing?
Strangers. Men, to be exact.
You know how I feel about strange men. Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Kayla, if they were on school grounds it probably wasn't sanctioned. Talk to the school, they'll probably be happy to tell them to leave and not come back. (My school managed to get an injunction even though they weren't on school property eventually, because of parents' safety concerns with people hanging around the school.)
Posted by FlyingCow (Member # 2150) on :
When handed a New Testament on campus a few years back, a jewish friend of mine said "Oh thanks! Wait, this is just the sequel... the original's much better."
You should have seen the guy's reaction.
***
As for school security, that is a concern, and you should bring it up with your school's principal. Other than parents or guardians picking up their kids, strange adults should not be patroling the front of schools at day's end confronting students - for whatever reason.
And regardless, there should be staff outside watching to make sure strange adults aren't approaching students. With the risk of abduction, students should be monitored especially closely once they are outside the school's walls but still on school grounds.
I don't care if they're handing out free lottery tickets or candy. It's too risky to have anyone, no matter what their angle, interacting with students without some sort of official supervision.
Posted by CaySedai (Member # 6459) on :
AFAIK, they can hand out the New Testaments off school grounds. We had this situation last school year. Parents were upset and wondered how legal it was.
Part of the problem was they just showed up. If they had contacted the school and said what they wanted to do, the school could have sent a letter home with kids, parents could have said "accept it" or "don't accept it" to their kids and it wouldn't have been such a big deal. I believe in this case that the people handing them out were on the sidewalk, not school grounds.
I think it boiled down to: freedom of speech = they can hand them out; separation of church and state = not on school grounds.
Posted by cheiros do ender (Member # 8849) on :
They could be from the local church in a community strongly christian for all i know. S/he still hasn't speicified who the men were that much.
Posted by MrSquicky (Member # 1802) on :
Were I a parent, I'd be very concerned with letting people like that near my children. Anyone pushing their agenda to kids sets off warning flags to me, especially if they are acitvely handing things out. Scary power issues there.
Posted by Lalo (Member # 3772) on :
If it's on school grounds, there's a problem. Either the school sanctioned religious proselytization, which violates the separation between church and state and places responsibility on the school's administration -- or it didn't, and these people are trespassing and should be treated as any adult sneaking onto school grounds should be.
Really, I'd love to see some people's reactions if these were fundamental Muslims handing out Korans, or Wiccans, or Satanists. Are we really so partisan?
Posted by King of Men (Member # 6684) on :
Damn, I wish atheists had a good tract to hand out on school grounds. Das Kapital doesn't really cut it. Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
The Communist Manifesto ?
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
I just read an article in the local "pagan" newsletter . . . apparently they aren't much for handing out tracts, proselytizing, etc., because THEY don't feel safe and free in this country to be open about THEIR beliefs . . .
And it would be interesting to see the reactions if it were some other religion . . . hmmmm.
I agree, Kayla, with the previously expressed opinion that the administration needs to be notified of the incident and your concern.
And perhaps a brief reminder to your child about not talking to strangers, especially strangers trying to give you something, even IF on school property?
Posted by Kayla (Member # 2403) on :
According to the ACLU webpage they shouldn't be doing this.
quote: The organized distribution of Bibles or any other holy book during the school day is unconstitutional, even if teachers aren't the ones actually handing out the Bibles, and even if they're not used as a part of the school's educational program. That's because the school building or grounds are still being used to spread a religious doctrine at a time when students are required to be there.
Well, maybe not. It was after school, though still on school grounds.
Here's another interesting account, also on an ACLU page.
quote: Josh Berger is my name. I'm from Rensselaer, Indiana. When I was ten and in the fifth grade, my dad wrote a letter to my school complaining about the fact that the Gideon Society distributed Bibles in the school every year. The Gideons are very up front about wanting to convert people to their type of Christianity. My family is an interfaith family Ä my dad is Jewish and my mother is Protestant Ä so they're very particular about the kind of religious teaching they want for me and my sister. Although I usually go with my mom to the church where she's an elder, religion is a personal matter in our house.
My dad expected that his complaint would settle things. He never thought he would have to go to court. But when the school responded in a hostile way, he went to the ACLU for help in filing suit. At the trial, the school superintendent testified that the school wasn't really pushing any type of religion by letting the Gideons distribute their Bibles because, she said, anyone could walk into the school and pass out religious materials if they wanted to. My mom, who's a teacher in the school district, knew that wasn't true. She knew the school officials would not have allowed any other kinds of religious materials to be distributed. Two older kids who are friends of mine testified for our side.
Even though our town is a rural place where people don't like to make waves, many of the neighbors, teachers and churchpeople supported us. None of the kids stopped being friends with me, even though some of their parents disagreed with us.
We won our lawsuit. After the federal district court ruled in favor of the school, the appellate court overturned that ruling and agreed with us that the Bible distribution was unconstitutional. Since the U.S. Supreme Court refused the school's request to review the case, our victory stands.
Posted by Enigmatic (Member # 7785) on :
KoM, you could always hand out Chick tracts. They seem pretty effective at converting people to atheism.
--Enigmatic
Posted by Deus (Member # 8861) on :
Well, personally, I think if it's a small child, then it's just wrong. It's basically propaganda if you think about it. I mean if it were at a college campus, and not forced on people, then it'd be more acceptable, but they can't just say "Hey, 5 year old kid, take a bible" What if their parents were atheist, pagan, jewish, or any number of other religions? What do you think would happen if a kid came home and said to their parents "Mommy, why are we heathens?" What happens then?
Posted by Kayla (Member # 2403) on :
quote: Gideons at School
Today at my school members of Gideon International were on school grounds passing out Gideon Bibles. One of them approached me and I told him i was an atheist, and I don't want one and he threw one in my passenger seat anyway and told me to read it. I'm sure this is a violation of my rights, what can I do to keep that off my school?
-via e-mail
American Atheists Respond:
Thanks for your e-mail. I would complain to the principal because they are not allowed to do that on school property. If the principal is not cooperative tell him or her that next week you will be standing in the same spot handing out copies of Madalyn O'Hairs Why I Am An Atheist to all the children. What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. I think the principal will then cooperate with you.
Most of what I'm finding is about Gideons passing them out, and it looks like that is what my son got, the New Testament with Psalms and Proverbs.
Posted by Joldo (Member # 6991) on :
I too find it very . . . uncomfortable that people unsanctioned by the school are allowed on school grounds to hand out anything to children (for surely they're not school-sanctioned, or you really do get to raise Cain ). School should be a place where children are exposed to alternate points of view and have their minds opened a little, but I'd say it should either come from their friends or it should be presented neutrally by a teacher.
Myself, I only turned liberal because of several researched debates I was assigned to in class. I'd consider that a legitimate form of schoolroom persuasion.
Posted by foundling (Member # 6348) on :
"The Communist Manifesto ?"
Umm, I pretty sure that one is taken by the Satanists, Imogen.
"KoM, you could always hand out Chick tracts. They seem pretty effective at converting people to atheism."
Those too, Enigmatic. I wouldnt recommend passing them out if you're not a Satanist, either. I hear they have some pretty good lawyers on their side, and they aint afraid to use them.
Posted by King of Men (Member # 6684) on :
Chick tracts, hmm. There's an idea.
Posted by cheiros do ender (Member # 8849) on :
How old is your son?
Posted by Joldo (Member # 6991) on :
I'd hand out the parody D&D Chick tracts. Or the MST3K ones. Possibly even MST3K movies. It's never too early to start the conversion process.
I'd reccomend handing out copies of Nietzsche, but that's kind of heavy reading.
Posted by MrSquicky (Member # 1802) on :
quote:And it would be interesting to see the reactions if it were some other religion . . . hmmmm.
Are you kidding? In Kansas? It's barely acceptable to be another religion, let alone hang around outside schools waiting to prey on kids.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
quote:Originally posted by FlyingCow: When handed a New Testament on campus a few years back, a jewish friend of mine said "Oh thanks! Wait, this is just the sequel... the original's much better."
*notes for future use*
Posted by Storm Saxon (Member # 3101) on :
Leaving aside issues of security, I believe these men can hand out whatever legal literature they want, as long as they don't work for the school. I would hazard a guess that the men don't ask the school for permission because with the school's permission, the school might be percieved as advocating (a) religion.
Posted by Audeo (Member # 5130) on :
I am uncomfortable when the Gideons hand them out on college campuses, and I'm a Christian. I have nothing against the New Testament (except that I have a couple copies of my own), but the manner in which they are handed out leaves a lot to be desired. They basically press them into the hands of anyone who walks by. This being a college campus, occasionally someone will stop to argue with them in the street about what they're doing, and overall, the effect is more divisive than bringing people towards Christ. There are a lot more effective (and tactful!) ways to share the message than forcing it on every person who walks by.
The fact that they are allowed to do this at elementary schools really upsets me. Most elementary age children are not capable of really analyzing their faith. It is up to their parents to give them the tools to understand the parents faith, and up to the children to decide as adults whether to continue to practice or not. It should not be up to strangers without parental permission to instruct children in religion.
One another note, it is even less sensical to give elementary age children copies of the New Testament than it is to give out to all college students. At least all college students are presumably capable of reading it and understanding it. Compare that to elementary students, I myself was rather bright as young child, but King James's English was painstaking and nonsensical to a child my age, without any parental guidance as to what words meant. I'm sure if anyone read the bible with their parents as children they learned the vocab, but without that background it's nearly impenetrable to even the average 5th grader let alone kindergarten or 1st graders.
I'm not really addressing whether or not it's right to have people on school grounds handing this stuff out to begin with, I'm just saying that they ought to stop because it seems like a waste of time and resources as well as being offensive. If you're really trying to convince earnest converts to join your church, you would do well to start by not offending them.
Posted by tern (Member # 7429) on :
quote:Originally posted by MrSquicky: Were I a parent, I'd be very concerned with letting people like that near my children. Anyone pushing their agenda to kids sets off warning flags to me, especially if they are acitvely handing things out. Scary power issues there.
There's people doing that all the time at schools...they're called "teachers". Everyone has an agenda.
quote:According to the ACLU webpage they shouldn't be doing this.
Going by the Anti-Christian Leftists Union's legal attacks, they shouldn't even be Christian. Good ACLU sign.
Don't get me wrong, I think it's a bit creepy too, but for heaven's sake, they're just people trying to do what they believe their religion wants them to do, they're not pedophiles or bad people. Just a little odd. Okay, really odd.
Posted by Mrs.M (Member # 2943) on :
Kayla, if I were you, I'd be furious and I'd have a lot to say to the principal. First and foremost, I'd want to know if the school sanctioned this. If so, I would demand an immediate stop to it. I would also request an apology that my child was exposed to the New Testament without my knowledge or consent.
To me, it is worse if it's not sanctioned by the school. There should be teachers and/or administrators watching the children walk from the buses to the school building. If there were, why in the heck didn't they notice that there were strange men handing things to the children? Something like this would NEVER be allowed in a Henrico elementary school.
quote:Don't get me wrong, I think it's a bit creepy too, but for heaven's sake, they're just people trying to do what they believe their religion wants them to do, they're not pedophiles or bad people.
How do you know that?
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
But if it's on school grounds, it's still illegal.
Posted by romanylass (Member # 6306) on :
I agree that it's innapropriate. I think it's wrong to proseltyse to school children. The safety factor is huge, too...I could all to easily see a pedophile getting into that for the easy access to children.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
*nods* I also remember that the guys doing it at my school were hostile when students refused a copy.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Come to think of it, it was my Jr. High, not my HS.
Posted by Samarkand (Member # 8379) on :
On school grounds = illegal. Even if off school grounds = sketchy around minors.
At my private university, groups would table. If a bunch of Gideons, (or Girl Scouts, or tribal dancers, or people who believe we are all descended from WahWah the panda god, wanted to set up a table and sit behind it, they could. And if someone found their table to be of interest, they could wander up and ask for the treatise on WahWah. It allowed people to have a venue in which they could make their private cause available to others without anyone feeling pressured. If someone did something similar off school grounds and with parents' and the schools' knowledge, then I would be ok with it. You shove anything into my kid's hand and I'm going to be gunning for you.
I have personal experience with anti-abortion activists and Gideons just off of school grounds in my high school years, and I think they were alienating people much more than interesting them. I am not Christian, but it made me sad to see students throw the Bible on the ground or rip it up; it's disrespectful to others' beliefs. Choosing to stake out school grounds is not healthy for children or for the group who so desperately wants to share their message.
Kayla, give that principal hell.
Posted by tern (Member # 7429) on :
quote:How do you know that?
How do you know otherwise? There is a presumption of innocence.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
quote:Originally posted by tern:
quote:How do you know that?
How do you know otherwise? There is a presumption of innocence.
In a court of law, sure. With unknown adults exhibiting sketchy behavior around children? No way.
Posted by tern (Member # 7429) on :
I think that it's kind of sad that these days, people handing out scriptures are considered to be engaging in sketchy behavior.
That being said, while I wouldn't quite say it is sketchy, I would certainly consider it less effective behavior. Really, handing out NTs to elementary kids, what's it going to accomplish. Might as well go to malls and "witness" to random people - you know that's the way to change people's lives...
Posted by Storm Saxon (Member # 3101) on :
Or go door to door. Posted by Tresopax (Member # 1063) on :
What's really sad is that these days, being a stranger in itself is considered sketchy - and that people feel justified in fearing their neighbor for almost no reason at all.
On that note, assuming we are talking about something that happened outside the school but on school property, it is unreasonable to expect schools to keep strangers off school property. School property tends to be large and open, and is often filled with parents/family coming to get children at the end of school. A better question is why is the distance between the bus and the front door so far that these people can be there? It should be close enough that teachers can patrol the whole distance.
On the other hand, I suppose it is possible they were sanctioned. I would think this is okay as long as they have a policy of sanctioning anyone who wants to give out religious material. I can't imagine a good reason for such a policy at an elementary school though.
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
I have one specific objection and one general one.
The specific one is that I do not think that strangers should be allowed on campus without the school's knowledge or consent. Assuming consent was given, I have a specific objection to religious materials being handed out on school property since I do believe that separation of church and state is a good idea, regardless of whether we agree about what the Constitution has to say about it.
My general objection is that the free versions handed out usually aren't very good. The print is small. The paper is cheap. And I don't usually care for the translation they're using.
I would rather that a child see the Bible as special and something to be both cherished and used. In fact, I would hope that my children (virtual though they may be) would get their first copy of Scripture either from dkw and I or from the congregation as a group.
It should be imbued with some ceremony, IMHO.
At least, it's an opportunity to make a point about community and belief beyond just "Hey kid, take a crappy copy of the New Testament!"
Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
How to counter it? Pass out...
1) Darwin's writings on evolution 2) Asimov's critique of Creationists. 3) McDonalds advertisements.(earn some money while doing it) 4) Candy. 5) Glasses of flouridated water in cups telling them the advantages of flouridation. 6) Bumper stickers that say "Gideon is goofy"
Posted by Storm Saxon (Member # 3101) on :
quote: What's really sad is that these days, being a stranger in itself is considered sketchy - and that people feel justified in fearing their neighbor for almost no reason at all.
Totally agreed.
Posted by cheiros do ender (Member # 8849) on :
We still don't know how old the boy is as far as I know. If you're arguing this on just the assumption that he's a preschooler, that's not really fair, is it?
Yes, I agree, there are better ways to educate people about different faiths. Like when accompanied by someone responible and over, say, 15.
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
quote:We still don't know how old the boy is as far as I know. If you're arguing this on just the assumption that he's a preschooler, that's not really fair, is it?
No...if it's on public school property, I don't want religious groups there unless access is open to all. I think it's far simpler to have access closed to all. My kids can get religious messages from their parents and the church we all attend.
Posted by Silent E (Member # 8840) on :
When I was in high school, they handed out the little New Testaments (plus Psalms & Proverbs) just across the street from the school. However, that happened to put them on the sidewalk directly in front of the LDS seminary.
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
Public Schools have pretty strict rules about "signing-in" and wearing some sort of badge to identify yourself as an approved guest or visitor.
This is not only about safety for kids, but about CYA'ing in the event of any litigation.
Parents have to fight for the right for their kids to READ religious materials during "Free Reading" in Public Schools.
But some group of unknown, unidentified/able strangers are allowed to hand out materials?
I don't think so . . .
Just imagine the concern if some well-meaning health care/outreach worker were handing out condoms and pictorial directions for use, eh? I mean, after all, stopping the spread of HIV/AIDS is very important - and knowing how to keep yourself safe should start young so kids are comfortable with safety measures by the time they reach the discerning age of puberty, no . . . ?
You're right, Bob - my Bible was presented to me as part of a special childhood religious ceremony. So was my son's. With family and friends nearby. Not a pack of strangers.
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
Hmm, of all the Christian groups in the world, the Gideons as an organization are among the most benign, IMO. I'd rather have them handing out even a mediocre translation of the Bible, than a Chick Tract as stated previously.
How their individual members behave, in general, is supposed to be quietly and respectfuly. (Though obviously individuals are individuals too.) They are not supposed to get into confrontations, from what I know of their policy. They aren't Fred Phelps types, if anything, the direct opposite.
I'm not sure about being at an elementary school. However, in the college arena, I found that the Gideons and the LDS missionaries, were the only two groups that were respectful enough to humanity in general to bother to talk to to begin with.
AJ
Posted by Chris Bridges (Member # 1138) on :
I have no problems with groups proselytzing on college campuses, or even high school IF they've received approval from the school first AND they vet the people there.
I have big problems with anyone approaching my kids in elementary or middle school and handing them anything. The fact that it's a bible is entirely besides the point, as far as I'm concerned, and has nothing to do with this issue.
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
Their website says they distribute at public and private schools from 5th grade on up. Every experience I have had with them, they did ask for permission through the proper channels if necessary.
AJ
They also only hand out KJV and NKJV bible translations, so if it is not one of those versions and/or doesn't have the Gideons symbol on it, it didn't come from the Gideons.
(Actually the Gideons kind of remind me of an evangelical version of the Masons.)
Posted by Bob the Lawyer (Member # 3278) on :
This seems stupid to me. Why the heck were these men allowed to do this? Clearly the religion has taken the stand that marketing is key to their success, and everyone knows that sex sells. It should have been handed out by scantily clad women. And Tellytubbies for little 'uns. Same goes for Mormons, someone send Hobbes a Speedo.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
quote:Originally posted by Bob the Lawyer: It should have been handed out by scantily clad women. And Tellytubbies for little 'uns. Same goes for Mormons, someone send Hobbes a Speedo.
(What I really want is a one-eyebrow-raised graemlin.)
Posted by Kayla (Member # 2403) on :
Called the school, which said the Superintendent was in charge of it and was transferred to his office. His secretary seemed surprised, as if this was all news to her. I left a message asking him who authorized them to hand out Bibles.
Got a call back later Friday afternoon (after being told that both he and the high school principal would be in meetings all day) and he said that what happened was. . .
Apparently, the school allowed a community garage sale to take place in their parking lot. When asked if the Gideons could pass out Bibles, the first "advice" they got was that since they opened up the parking lot for one group to hold a garage sale, they had to allow other groups the same access.
At which time, I mentioned the previously mentioned 1993 case. He seemed surprised that I would know anything about that and then went on to say that he'd just come from a meeting where they got that information. They realized the original "advice" they got was wrong and the Gideons won't be allowed back.
I'm assuming that no one else will be either. But I didn't think of asking. I mean, it'll be another 4 years by the time the Gideons really need to come back since they managed to hit four years worth of kids already.
Right now, I'm hung up on the original "advice" they got. Did they take the word of the people asking for permission? Did they actually talk to their lawyers? If they talked to their lawyers, and then had to go back and revisit the issue again, how much time are these lawyers charging the taxpayers? I mean, it took me about 5 minutes to find the relevant case law, add 5 for the original phone call for the question and another 5 for the response, I don't think the school should be billed for more than 15 minutes. But I have a feeling that the original phone call took about an hour, plus God only knows how long they "researched" and another hour for the return call. Then there were two days spent in meetings about whether or not the Gideons should have been given access and how the school could/should cover it's ass. So, about 3 days worth of billing for a 15 minute question.
I should call and find out, but I just can't deal with it right now.
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
I've been handed pamphets, but never a Bible. I could really do with a Bible.
Also, the language that these types of people use really gets on my nerves; "Jesus loves you here take my pamphlet." "No, thank you." "Jesus reeeeeeeeally loves you, even after refusing my pamphet. Take a pamphlet and be saved."
I'm always very polite though. I always recycle the pamphet.
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Teshi, I would be happy to send you a Bible.
Actually, I'm sure there are several people here who would.
Posted by etphonehome (Member # 999) on :
The Gideons show up a couple times a year at my university and hand out little green new testaments. I don't think there's any policy against it as the whole campus is open to free speech/protests/whatever. The grounds of a public primary or secondary school might be a different story. However, if they were standing across the street or even on the sidewalk outside the school there might not be anything the school administrators legally can do to stop them.
Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
Several question need to be answered.
Does the school have a free speech area? Does the school restrict public access? Were the Gideons on a public road or sidewalk or actually on school property? Does the community have ordinances that restrict free speech in the vaccinity of the school?
I think it would be interesting to contact your local American Athiest society (or maybe Wicca) and get them to hand out pamplets next week at the same location. If the school officials try to stop them, then you have a strong lawsuit for unequal access. What's more likely is that many angry parents will contact the school demanding that this be stopped. If the community doesn't already have an ordinance that prohibits the solicitation in the vaccinity of schools, this action would likely get you one.
Posted by Kayla (Member # 2403) on :
Rabbit, I was told that from now on, if anyone wanted to hand out anything, they would have to be in the parkway and not on the actual school grounds. And that they shouldn't have been allowed to be where they were this time, but they were given incorrect information.
Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
Thanks Kayla. I still think it would be fun to get some vocal non-Christian group to come hand out literature and watch how the community reacts.
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(What I really want is a one-eyebrow-raised graemlin.)