What’s in your book bag?
A Christian activist from New Jersey is asking students to bring Bibles to school this week and use passages in assignments and classroom discussions.
Bob Pawson says he scheduled the “academic evangelism” event to coincide with a nationwide See You at the Pole event Wednesday.
“The only people keeping Bibles out of America’s public school are us Christians,” Pawson says on his Web site, bringyourbible.com.
Some separation of church and state folks are concerned about the project, but say there’s nothing unconstitutional about bringing Bibles to school.
What do you think? Certainly the Bible is a work of literature and a great inspiration to Christians, but does it have a place in a science classroom? Would the discussions it generates lead to classroom disruptions or thought-provoking debates?
What if a Muslim group was pushing a similar agenda: toting the Quran to class? Would that be OK too?
Let me know your thoughts at ssimpson@oklahoman.com
Susan Simpson, Education Writer
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Hello Susan,
Hello from the aforementioned “Christian activist from New Jersey”: Bob Pawson – a public school teacher. As requested in your blog’s closing line – here are some of my thoughts.
Scriptures in Schools Week has always been scheduled for the fourth week of September and See You at the Pole on the third Wednesday. In 2006, SYATP was moved to the fourth Wednesday. Now the two events “coincide”.
As for “some separation of church and state folks” being “concerned” about the project”: Excellent! We live in America – where people are free to feel “concerned” — while the rest of us exercise our LIBERTIES and RIGHTS. Ironically, the SIS Project totally avoids any mixing of church and state. Neither is involved; it’s all done by individuals.
Your blog asked: Does the Bible “have a place in a science classroom”? Yes indeed! There are Bible passages which reveal scientific principles not “discovered” by scientists until centuries after the Bible described them. Any science concepts represented in the Bible are accurate. In fact, most fields of modern science were founded by devout Christians seeking to better understand and explain God’s creation. There are plenty of math concepts and applications in the Bible, as well.
There have been no reports of any “classroom disruptions” in the ten years of SIS Week. The goal is to generate dialogue; not disruption. See bringyourbible.com for full details about SIS Project. Do a google search of “Scriptures in Schools Week”.
As for the Quran: the Muslim students whom I have had in my classes do bring their Qurans; and their prayer rugs. That’s OK. We all have equal rights under the US Constitution.
As I have said for years, “The only people keeping the Bible OUT of America’s public schools are – us Christians. All we have to do is bring our Bibles in. Let’s do so: by the millions – students and teachers. Tote ‘em and quote ‘em and use ‘em in class. What’s the use of having a right or a liberty if we do not exercise it?”
Yours truly,
Bob Pawson, National Coordinator
Scriptures in Schools Project
P.S. I have been to Oklahoma (family). Also, I administer my school’s on-line learning courses – which are provided by Oklahoma City’s own Advanced Academics. AdvAc reps from OKC occasionally visit our school and my computer lab.