Findlay’s Fishy Field Trip: Ohio Public School Officials Trumpet Gideons’ Bibles

Hey, kids, it’s time to go pick up your Bibles!

That was the implicit message to fifth-grade students at five Findlay, Ohio, elementary schools. Students took a field trip during school hours to pick up Bibles being handed out off campus by Gideons International, the Associated Press has reported. 

The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio has since intervened, writing a letter to the public school district explaining why this is unconstitutional.

“Groups such as Gideons International can distribute literature on public sidewalks,” the ACLU said, “but it infringes on the First Amendment rights of every student to receive such information while on school time, regardless of whether it is in or out of the school building.” 

Many people in Findlay were outraged that anyone would want to put a stop to this practice, which has been going on for at least 15 years, the school’s superintendent told the local affiliate of ABC news.

“From my perspective, only good could come out of it,” one parent told the news channel. Another parent said, “To me I don’t think it’s a big deal.” 

The Gideon Bible handout seems a little redundant. Most people in town already own Bibles, a recent high school graduate told the Scene.

“Findlay is already super Christian to begin with,” she said. “Everyone in town already owns a Bible — or six. In fact, I have more Bibles than I do voice messages.” 

This just furthers the point that the school is unnecessarily singling out the few students who are not Christian. One Muslim parent complained to the school district because her daughter felt pressured to take a Bible, the Scene reported.

Thankfully, not everyone in Findlay wants the school-promoted Bible practice to continue. An editorial in Findlay’s local newspaper probably put it best: 

“Rather than worrying about what separation of church and state denies them, Christians should remember what this interpretation of the Constitution secures for them: the right of all to worship (or not) wherever and however they please, and raise their children as they see fit.”

Maybe next time the field trip should be for students, parents and school administrators to pick up a copy of our Constitution.

By Sandhya Bathija