Students at the Delta Middle School in Colorado are getting satanic coloring books and other literature in support of atheism on April 1 and the school administration is not preventing this despite potential outrage from parents. Two organizations are giving the free materials in response to the Bible distribution that the school also allowed to take place in December.
The coloring book is called "The Satanic Children's Big Book of Activities," which comes from The Satanic Temple. There are also brochures from the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) that touch on free thinking, atheism and Bible teachings with titles like "What's Wrong With the Ten Commandments" or "Why Women Need Freedom From Religion," per The Huffington Post.
School District Violated Own Policy
A representative from the Western Colorado Atheists and Freethinkers (WCAF) first alerted the Delta County School District about the Bible distribution in the middle school last year after some parents said they felt shamed and uncomfortable. WCAF proposed that other religious group must also be allowed to provide the kids with handouts after Gideons distributed the Bible to the students. However, the school district had no response.
The WFAC then enlisted the help of the FFRF and its lawyers sent a letter to the school district. It cited possible violations to the school district's own policy on religious discrimination and the separation of the church and state.
"We do not think schools should be a battleground for religious ideas," the FFRF letter stated. "But when schools allow the Gideons to prey on children, their message of eternal damnation for any who don't believe in their god must be countered."
"Now they are willing to, if not stop these illegal exercises, then make it an equal-opportunity thing," said WCAF spokesman Aleksandr Koleakov, via Westword.
Here's the latest up-to-the-minute update on the planned April 1 lit distribution in Delta schools: The box of Satanic...
Posted by Western Colorado Atheists and Freethinkers on Tuesday, March 29, 2016
School Upholds Non-Discrimination and Policy Revision
In upholding non-discrimination, Delta Middle School issued a circular to inform the public that "non-curricular literature" will be distributed among the students. However, the school made it clear that these materials will only be found in assigned areas and the kids are free to pick them up if they want to, per the circular.
In light of this, the Delta County School District said it will look into a revision of their policy, per KJCT. The WCAF hopes that the district will ensure complete separation of the church and the state this time.
