State Attorney General Duke W. Dunbar has advised Colorado State Education Commissioner Byron Hansford that school teachers in this state may no longer read the Bible to their classes, and must conform with the United States Supreme Court’s decision banning Bible reading in public schools. The opinion was given by the Attorney General in response to a request for a ruling on whether a teacher may read any version of the Bible to public school pupils without comment, and whether such reading may or may not be required by a school board.
“Group Bible reading,” Mr. Dunbar ruled, “and prayer, as a devotional exercise or ritual in the public schools of Colorado, may no longer be conducted, whether or not they are permitted or required by school boards, administrators or teachers, and whether or not the pupils engage in the practices.”
The Attorney General pointed out, however, that the Supreme Court’s decision, in his opinion, “imposes no ironclad limitations upon the mention of God, reference to the Bible or teaching about religion in the public schools. Nor is there any restraint upon unorganized, private or personal prayer or Bible reading by pupils during free moments of the day.” It was also believed that the teaching of the Bible as literature will be permitted.
Gov. John A. Love, it was learned today, also had been asked by county officials to investigate whether Bible reading would be allowed in public schools under certain circumstances. The Governor replied: “I don’t know how strong my feelings are about this. I believe the churches of Colorado are doing a good job of teaching religious education and I say this as a church and family man.”
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
