Gideons versus Godless: Abbotsford public schools criticized for distributing bibles

Abbotsford mother Tara MacRae was a little miffed when both her son and daughter came home from elementary school with a brochure for a Christian basketball program Athletes in Action that "encourages players to discover a relationship with Jesus Christ," according to its website.

"I didn't think it was appropriate because they have bible study as part of the program," said MacRae ."Distributing religious materials in the public school system is not appropriate and I think it contravenes our school act."

Free bibles

Last year theAbbotsfordschool district also sent home a consent formofferinga freeGideonsbible to all Grade 5students.As a result, 112 bibles where distributed inAbbotsfordpublic schools.

MacRaesays schools inAbbotsfordseemout of step with the rest of the province.

"We moved herein July from Coquitlam," she said. "I grew up in Vancouver.I'm 39 now and we certainly didn't get handed out bibles. And prayers had stopped long before I entered school. Soit feels like I've gone back to 1942. Coming to this districtwhere I have to say, 'no you can't be handing out bibles in our public school system.'It's crazy."

The B.C. Humanist Association believes it's also unconstitutional, not to mention unfair.

"Wethink schools shouldn't be a venue for religious groups to proselytizeto children," said Ian Bushfield, executive director of the BCHA. "We'd rather see objective and equal discussion of religion."

Godless Comics

The BCHA has sent a letter to Abbotsfordschool superintendent Kevin Godden asking the district stop distributing religious materials.

Bushfieldsays if Gideonsis allowed to distribute material through theAbbotsford school system, his organization should be granted equal access to hand out a publication calledGodless Comics.

"The comics provide arguments for why some people don't believe in God," stated Bushfield.

Abbotsfordschool district communication managerDave Stephentold CBC News usually heorthe superintendent decides what material is handed out in schools. Stephensaysthe letter from the BCHA"will be reviewed in due course by our district administration."

"To be clear the only [religious group]who has ever approached the district is Gideons...and they're the only one we've ever engaged with at this level. So it's been, I guess, a legacy arrangement going on for some years in this district."

"Anybody has the ability to submit materials for distribution," said Stephen. "But now we're going to review the whole question so I'm not sure where we'll land."

'They didn't answer myquestion'

MacRaesaid shewrote both the Minster of Education and the Abbotsfordschooldistrict with her concerns. Only thedistrict sent a reply,advising that they would no longer be sendingpaper material home with students.

"They didn't answer my question," she said. "Thedidn't actually respond to whetherthey agreed or disagreed that distributing religious materials was appropriate."