The Beatitudes are beautiful, as are many things within the Bible. It’s not the content I object to, it’s that religion does not belong in public schools. If we post anything from the Bible, it suggests that Christianity is better than other religions. If that’s a personal choice made in church or at home, fine, but it should not be promoted in schools. How do you think that’s going to make students of other faiths feel? It’s certainly not going to make them feel comfortable, welcome, or equal, I assure you. It’s not going to do anything to support acceptance of others or their differences. What about the parents and teachers of other faiths? Posting Christian texts sends a message that they are neither welcome nor of equal value.

I have nearly 30 years of experience in education. I can tell you if you post a poster of the Ten Commandments without ever pointing it out, the kids will notice, then ignore it for the most part. But if it’s posted in all classrooms and elsewhere, it makes a statement of importance, although again, once they get used to it, it will largely be ignored. Can you see, however, that it’s just a stepping stone? The requirement in OK is not just to make the Bible available, but to teach it as the foundation of the country, among other things, which is not only untrue, but it assures that it cannot be ignored. It’s become a requirement of education and success in education, and it and the country are being misrepresented.

I’m not anti-religion, anti-Christian, or anti-Bible, but I am against forcing religion on people, and that’s what these laws aim to do. Religion belongs in church or the home, not in public places, especially in public schools.