Some may say God has been taken out of the country's schools, but Thursday will put him back into classrooms for those who participate in "Bring Your Bible to School Day."
The day, sponsored by Focus on the Family, a national Christian organization, encourages students no matter their age or grade to take the Bible into their classroom, USA Today and the Louisville Courier Journal reported.
Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin is supporting the day and wants to take it a step further than just taking the Bible to school.
"I would encourage you, please, don't just bring your Bible to school, but read your Bible. Bring it, share it with others. If you have an extra Bible, bring it and share it with somebody who doesn't have one, who maybe has never read this book." Bevin said on social media.
Focus on the Family says more than 650,000 students took part in last year's "Bring Your Bible to School Day."
Some are questioning the legality of bringing the Bible to school.
Jeremy Dys, a lawyer for First Liberty Institute, told Fox News, "Students are not only allowed to bring their Bible to school. They're certainly allowed to read it during free time, in between classes, and even reference the Bible within their assignments and class discussions."
First Liberty Institute is a legal organization that was created to protect religious freedom.
The Freedom from Religion Foundation agrees.
"The constitutional boundaries are simple. Students, of course, have the right to bring their Bible to school on this or any other day," Elizabeth Cavel, a lawyer with FFRF, told Fox News.
But there are fine lines students and teachers cannot cross, Cavel said.
"Public school teachers and administrators may not promote or encourage students to participate in religious events on this or any other day,"
Students also cannot "monopolize the classroom time with reading the Bible."
The Alliance Defending Freedom has issued guidance concerning their legal First Amendment rights when it comes to "Bring Your Bible to School Day."
Legal Rights Memo-Bring Your Bible to School Day by National Content Desk on Scribd
About the Author
