Broward County Public Schools officials have banned reading the Bible during “free reading” time.
It all started on April 8th when Giovanni Rubeo, fifth-grade student at the school, tried to read his Bible during the free reading time in class where students are allowed to read anything they choose.
Swornia Thomas, Giovanni’s teacher, told him that he’s not allowed to read the Bible in her class, so the boy asked his teacher to call his father about it, which she did.
“I noticed that he [Giovanni] has a book—a religious book—in the classroom. He’s not permitted to read those books in my classroom,” Thomas stated in the voicemail left for the father.
The father contacted the school’s principal, Orinthia Dias, who then brought in the school’s legal department. But no school official was willing to acknowledge the boy’s constitutional right to read his Bible.
“Banning religious books like the Bible violates Giovanni’s civil rights to religious free speech and free exercise,” stated Hiram Sasser, Litigation Director at Liberty Institute. “The school’s actions exemplify the hostility to religion that the U.S. Supreme Court has condemned.”
“We expect Broward County Public School officials to resolve this unfortunate incident quickly and amicably,” says Liberty Institute Senior Counsel Jeremy Dys. “Absent such an apology and assurance that students in Broward County Public Schools may read religious books like the Bible during free reading times, our client is prepared to take legal action.”
Listen to the voicemail message here:
Demand Letter to Broward County Schools 50514.pdf
Officials at Broward County Public Schools banned a fifth grader from reading the Bible during “free reading” time, according to lawyers from the Liberty Institute who are threatening to sue the school for violating the First Amendment.
Giovanni Rubeo is a fifth-grade student at the school, who had been given a Bible at church as a Christmas gift. It’s his favorite book, so he decided he’d like to read it during the time in class where students are allowed to read anything they choose.Swornia Thomas is Giovanni’s teacher. On April 8, Thomas told Giovanni he’s not allowed to read the Bible in her class and ordered him to put it away. Giovanni asked her to call his father, Paul Rubeo, about the incident.
Thomas did so, leaving a voicemail that included, “I noticed that he [Giovanni] has a book—a religious book—in the classroom. He’s not permitted to read those books in my classroom.” Rubeo then contacted the school’s principal, Orinthia Dias, who brought in the school’s legal department. None of them are willing to acknowledge that Giovanni has a constitutional right to read the Bible.
So Rubeo retained Liberty Institute to assert Giovanni’s First Amendment rights. Liberty Institute has now sent a demand letter to Broward County Public Schools and is holding a public event this afternoon at the federal courthouse in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
I feel all students should have the freedom to read what ever type of literature they want during this “free time” as long as it’s appropriate for the school; there shouldn’t be a problem with the bible as long as other students from other nationalities, backgrounds and cultures have the right to read their religious literature as well. Not everyone is going to believe in the same thing so they should be free to study their religion.
Would he be allowed to read material about islam? Throw them out and get someone who understands this students rights.
OMG what a truly bonehead thing to do,
FORESHAME!
Bet they would let him read the KORAN, guess thats how its spelled, we have spell checkers on face book.
This should be a CRIME, the Bible is the only TRUTH!
you can read the quran any where !! when my son was in school. his homework was ” how was the world created ?” my son opened the bible 3 page’s later .. homework was done he was so proud after 3 hours of writing ! he took it to school the next day. and he came home crying ! and told me the teacher tour it up and told he that if she wanted to read the bible she would buy one !!! will the next day i walked in to that school like a lioness protecting her cubs !!!!! the teacher and the principal were scared when i opened my mouth !!!! I RUN DOWN ONE SIDE OF HER AND UP THE OTHER WITH MY MOUTH AND CHARGED HER FOR IT ! SHE THEM PUT HER HAND ON MY ARM AND SAID THAT’S NOT WHAT I MEANT THE HOMEWORK WAS ABOUT HOW WE GOT HERE !!! I HAD ARE ARRESTED FOR ASSAULT !! *** AND YES I MEANT THAT **** !!!!
we our losing badly
Why!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That is dumb the teacher said it was free. Reading and that you could choose anything you want WHY NOT THE BIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Public schooling is a serious issue, but it’s a public school for a reason that way the community in that area has a say on the policies. Good work