Court Upholds Ban On Parent's Bible Reading To Kindergarteners

In Busch v. Marple Newtown School District, (ED PA, May 31, 2007), a Pennsylvania federal district court has upheld a decision by a school principal barring the mother of a kindergarten student from reading a Biblical selection from the book of Psalms to a kindergarten class as part of the "All About Me" unit. The unit, among other things, encouraged parents to read a story to the class. The court held that even though this amounted to viewpoint discrimination, it was permissible because this was an organized curricular activity in which the reading might well be perceived as being endorsed by the school. The school had a compelling interest in avoiding proselytizing of students in violation of the Establishment Clause. The court also rejected plaintiff's establishment clause and equal protection claims.