Asheville City Schools’ board of education approved a new religious policy. Oddly, I think if we have freedom of religion, it makes little sense to have a policy on it. That is, the free exercise shouldn’t be a problem unless some other law is being disrespected. That is, if you want to carry your Bible, fine. If you want to hit me with it, and I am rich, I can sue you for assault. If you want to force me to read passages therefrom, and I am afraid they will pollute my mind, then I do what I did when teachers assigned inappropriately smutty books, and accept the grades I get for not turning the pages.
The policy states its intent to, with qualifications, support “the free, private exercise of individual religious beliefs.” We should be glad, but then I shouldn’t be too picky about the words educators use for official documents.
