Is the Bible Out of Public Schools?

By Aaron E. Ziebarth, Executive Director

Teachers listed their top five complaints over two periods of time. Which set of complaints is worse?

Top five public school teacher complaints

1940-1962

1963 – Present

· talking

· chewing gum

· making noise

· running in the halls

· getting out of turn in line

· rape

· robbery

· assault

· burglary

· arson

Culture has changed significantly since the Bible was removed from public schools in 1963.

“One can argue, and some have, that the decision by the Supreme Court – in a series of three decisions back in 1962 and 1963 – to remove Bible and prayer from our public schools, may be the most spiritually significant event in our nation’s history over the course of the last 55 years,” said William Jeynes, a professor at California State College in Long Beach and a senior fellow at the Witherspoon Institute in Princeton, N.J

Since 1963, Jeynes said there have been five negative developments in the nation’s public schools:

Academic achievement has plummeted, including SAT scores.
Increased rate of out-of-wedlock births
Increase in illegal drug use
Increase in juvenile crime
Deterioration of school behavior

Recently cheerleaders used scripture verses on signs, but public school officials told them they could no longer display their Bible-verse signs at school sporting events, even though the signs were messages the students “chose, with paint they paid for, on paper they purchased,” an attorney representing the cheerleaders explained to reporters.

But the good news is, multiple courts sided with the cheerleaders—which culminated, after a multi-year struggle, in a victory this fall that will empower kids nationwide. The case illustrates an important constitutional principle that all students should know about:

Government schools cannot censor students’ personal, respectful expressions of faith.

Children are able to distribute materials that represent their faith.

Children are able to invite children to the Bible Adventure and CIA Programs

Children can share memorized scripture in school.

Children are encouraged to bring their Bible to school. Next week, more than half a million kids will be participating in an event annually sponsored by Focus on the Family: Bring Your Bible to School Day^® on Thursday, Oct. 4.