# Duncan, OK school teacher handing out bibles **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 8, 2015, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duncan-ok-school-teacher-handing-out-bibles/717116 "2015-04-08T13:09:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duncan-ok-school-teacher-handing-out-bibles/717116/1 "2015-04-08T13:09:10Z")
> **[Duncan Public Schools threatened with lawsuit over "unconstitutional Bible...](https://www.kswo.com/story/28744526/duncan-public-schools-threatened-with-lawsuit-over-unconstitutional-bible-distribution/)** > > Do Bibles belong in the hands of public school teachers? That's the debate in Duncan as a national humanist group has threatened a lawsuit against Duncan Public Schools over what they call "unconstitutional Bible distribution." This town is apparently now trying to run this woman out of town for daring to challenge the teachers actions. Massive numbers of threats via Facebook, Twitter, etc. National news has not seemed to pick this up yet, but at least one atheist group has stepped up to at least threaten legal action. Still waiting on responses from ACLU and FFRF. Stuff like this really makes my blood boil to the point of wanting to go to law shool to fight this stuff for real. If this teacher was handing out any other religious texts to 3rd graders I would imagine she would have been fired faster than you can say “terrorist” statistics are showing that our society is slowly becoming less religious which gives me so much hope for the future but moments like this make me wonder where this is going to go and how far some of these people are going to push before religion truly crumbles in this country. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duncan-ok-school-teacher-handing-out-bibles/717116/2 "2015-04-08T13:30:42Z")
Hope Satanists find out. Legal challenges take time, this crap stops the minute a Satanist shows and starts handing out material. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duncan-ok-school-teacher-handing-out-bibles/717116/3 "2015-04-08T13:31:26Z")
My 9th grade history teacher handed out Bibles to my entire class, but there was a good reason for it - the theme of the curriculum for that semester was creation myths from around the world, we were looking at the Old Testament for that particular assignment, and getting a bunch of the Bibles that churches give away for free anyway was easier than going through the school library. 3rd-graders? I’m not sure what possible scholastic intent there could have been, because the Bible is definitely not written at a 3rd-grade level. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duncan-ok-school-teacher-handing-out-bibles/717116/4 "2015-04-08T13:53:31Z")
Now I’m curious about the legality of stuff like this: Can a public school teacher provide books to her students? and if so, how is it determined which books she may or may not give them? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duncan-ok-school-teacher-handing-out-bibles/717116/5 "2015-04-08T14:22:19Z")
I’m horrified. That book is filled with violence and pornography. Next thing you know she’ll be giving out books on sex education. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duncan-ok-school-teacher-handing-out-bibles/717116/6 "2015-04-08T14:35:02Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > I’m horrified. That book is filled with violence and pornography. Next thing you know she’ll be giving out books on sex education. Babies happen the same way in all religions. I doubt we will find many cites to the contrary. 3rd grade is a tad early for the details but I don’t think anyone can claim the country is over educated in reproductive health. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duncan-ok-school-teacher-handing-out-bibles/717116/7 "2015-04-08T14:37:45Z")
> [@drachillix](#): > > Babies happen the same way in all religions. I doubt we will find many cites to the contrary. 3rd grade is a tad early for the details but I don’t think anyone can claim the country is over educated in reproductive health. Will the little girls go home & ask Dad to play “Lot’s Daughters”? ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duncan-ok-school-teacher-handing-out-bibles/717116/8 "2015-04-08T16:53:00Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > Will the little girls go home & ask Dad to play “Lot’s Daughters”? I doubt they would be the first…or the last. ---
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duncan-ok-school-teacher-handing-out-bibles/717116/9 "2015-04-08T17:20:49Z")
It’s hard to go through life without being handed a Bible or two. Good learning experience. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duncan-ok-school-teacher-handing-out-bibles/717116/10 "2015-04-08T17:23:21Z")
> [@drachillix](#): > > Babies happen the same way in all religions. I doubt we will find many cites to the contrary. 3rd grade is a tad early for the details but I don’t think anyone can claim the country is over educated in reproductive health. [Up here in Ontario, Kanukistan:](http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/02/25/ontario-sex-ed-curriculum_n_6754696.html) > [@](#): > > In Grade 1, students should be able to identify body parts, including genitalia like the penis, testicles, vagina, vulva, and use correct terminology. > > By Grade 2, students will outline the basic stages of human development, including an infant, child, adolescent, adult, older adult, for example, and related bodily changes. They will also identify factors that are important for healthy growth. > > In Grade 3, students will be able to describe how visible differences (like facial features, body size and shape, physical aids or different physical abilities, for example) and invisible differences (like learning abilities, personal or cultural values and beliefs, gender identity, sexual orientation, for example), make each person unique. Students will also learn ways of showing respect for people’s differences. My guess is that a bible pusher would not be into helping grade three children learn about gender identity and sexual orientation, let alone respect for people who are different. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duncan-ok-school-teacher-handing-out-bibles/717116/11 "2015-04-08T17:30:51Z")
> [@marshmallow](#): > > It’s hard to go through life without being handed a Bible or two. Good learning experience. It’s never happened to me, and I’m over 50. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duncan-ok-school-teacher-handing-out-bibles/717116/12 "2015-04-08T17:34:45Z")
:: [hands **Telemark** a Bible](http://www.lolcatbible.com/index.php?title=Main_Page) :: ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duncan-ok-school-teacher-handing-out-bibles/717116/13 "2015-04-08T18:15:53Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Now I’m curious about the legality of stuff like this: Can a public school teacher provide books to her students? and if so, how is it determined which books she may or may not give them? This is every bit as narrow minded and bigoted as wanting to ban Harry Potter or Huckleberry Finn from schools. Censorship is censorship. ETA: And the thread title is misleading. The teacher did not hand them out. She said they were available to any who wanted to take one. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duncan-ok-school-teacher-handing-out-bibles/717116/14 "2015-04-08T18:33:52Z")
I remember when I was in grade school and they would let the [Gideons](http://www.gideons.org/) come in and hand out bibles. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duncan-ok-school-teacher-handing-out-bibles/717116/15 "2015-04-08T19:27:12Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Now I’m curious about the legality of stuff like this: Can a public school teacher provide books to her students? and if so, how is it determined which books she may or may not give them? > [@Doug\_K](#): > > This is every bit as narrow minded and bigoted as wanting to ban Harry Potter or Huckleberry Finn from schools. Censorship is censorship. > > ETA: And the thread title is misleading. The teacher did not hand them out. She said they were available to any who wanted to take one. Actually, he’s the only one in this thread who at least wondered if it was actually illegal to do this, assuming it was done\*. You’re yapping at the wrong poster here, bro. I know we Americans are hyper sensitive about this sort of thing, but I have to wonder if it would even be a controversy in a country like Canada or the UK. \*Note that even the OP’s link says all the facts are not in. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duncan-ok-school-teacher-handing-out-bibles/717116/16 "2015-04-08T19:40:03Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Actually, he’s the only one in this thread who at least wondered if it was actually illegal to do this, assuming it was done\*. You’re yapping at the wrong poster here, bro. > > I know we Americans are hyper sensitive about this sort of thing, but I have to wonder if it would even be a controversy in a country like Canada or the UK. > > \*Note that even the OP’s link says all the facts are not in. I was agreeing with him, not “yapping”. ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duncan-ok-school-teacher-handing-out-bibles/717116/17 "2015-04-08T20:00:57Z")
> [@Doug\_K](#): > > This is every bit as narrow minded and bigoted as wanting to ban Harry Potter or Huckleberry Finn from schools. Censorship is censorship. So then you’d be OK with Pornography handed out to 3rd graders? ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duncan-ok-school-teacher-handing-out-bibles/717116/18 "2015-04-08T20:17:21Z")
If the literature, whatever it is, would be available by policy in the school library then I have no problem with a teacher distributing copies. ---
**Author:** ![Robert163](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/4af34b/32.png) [@Robert163](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robert163)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duncan-ok-school-teacher-handing-out-bibles/717116/19 "2015-04-08T20:19:07Z")
> [@Doctor\_Jackson](#): > > If the literature, whatever it is, would be available by policy in the school library then I have no problem with a teacher distributing copies. well fortunaetly for the rest of america your opinion doesnt matter ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duncan-ok-school-teacher-handing-out-bibles/717116/20 "2015-04-08T20:22:06Z")
> [@Doctor\_Jackson](#): > > If the literature, whatever it is, would be available by policy in the school library then I have no problem with a teacher distributing copies. If a teacher is only handing out Bibles I’d consider that proselytizing. What do you think would happen if she started handing out Korans? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/duncan-ok-school-teacher-handing-out-bibles/717116.md?page=2)