4/12    This is the first time I find myself agreeing with the
        ACLU on something. The separation of church and state:
        http://www.aclu.org/news/2001/n041001b.html
        \_ god has no place within these walls, just like facts
           have no place within organized religion!
           \_ so putting atheist views into "these walls" is not the same
              thing as putting religion into "these walls" since atheism is
              just another religion
              \_ The lack of religion in school teaching is not the same as
                 the promotion of atheism.  Schools should be talking about
                 math, science, literature, and history.  Not belief in God
                 or lack of belief in God.  Schools should deal with facts,
                 not beliefs.
              \_ coherency--
              \_ if you're trying to argue that atheism is a religion, well
                 nice flamebait but that's a ridiculous statement.
                 \_ Atheism is not a religion, but both atheism and theism
                    are beliefs.  As one above poster put it, beliefs have
                    no place in schools, only facts do.
        \_ I agree with the ACLU often, however, they are wrong this time.
           There is no reasonable way the first amendment can be interpreted
            to say that it is illegal to give out bibles in schools.
                \_ There's a difference between "giving out bibles in schools"
                   (which I disagree with but that's another issue) and the
                   child in this case who was held up by the teachers as an
                   object of scorn and ridicule which gives license to the
                   other kids to make her suffer.  I've had a small taste of
                   what this child was put through.  It is wrong to put a
                   child through this and hypocritical to do so in the name
                   of Jesus' love.  If it was you as a child with the minority
                   non-conformist view/religion/race/economic status/whatever
                   in grade school you'd feel differently about it today.  I
                   say again, the school system *should* be about teaching the
                   "three R's" (plus history and a few other things that don't
                   start with "R") :-) and nothing else.  I don't care if the
                   case is a first amendment issue or a last amendment issue.
                   What was done to the little girl was morally wrong.  All in
                   the name of Jesus....