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By Kent Larsen
Students Ejected From School For Reading Book of Mormon
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH -- Three West High Students were escorted out of
Salt Lake City's West High School last Tuesday, allegedly because
they had copies of the Book of Mormon on their desks. The students
evidently planned to read them during free time, but the teacher
called the books offensive and asked school security to escort the
students from school for causing a disruption.
Salt Lake City school district officials say they don't know much
about the incident. "At this point, we don't know exactly what
happened," says Patrick Garcia, the district's west area director. He
says West High's principal, Joyce Gray, is investigating the
incident, but was out ill on Friday. The matter could be resolved by
today.
However,the incident has caused hurt feelings and confusion. While
the teacher was also out ill on Friday and not available for comment,
Salt Lake City Board of Education president Kelly Black said the
students had ignored the teacher's instructions. "The teacher's
policy was that they were to bring fiction for their free-reading
time, so this was obviously not what she asked for." According to
Black, one of the students refused to remove the book from the desk
when requested, prompting the confrontation. "Students have been
asked to put in writing what happened," Black said. "If we find
inappropriate behavior on the part of the students or teacher, we
will take appropriate action."
Some observers are saying the case raises first amendment issues
either because the students were reading a religious text in school,
or because the school might be seen as limiting worship.
Source:
Religious Book Stirs Classroom Incident
Salt Lake Tribune 4Nov00 D1
By Ashley Estes: Salt Lake Tribune
and
Book choice spurs ejection
Deseret News 3Nov00 D1
By Jennifer Toomer-Cook: Deseret News staff writer
Some West students punished for bringing scriptures to class
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