Not since the Accommodation Review Committee decision has so many people shown up at a Bluewater District School Board Meeting.
The issue of bible distribution was on the minds of well over 100 people as the Policy Committee met Tuesday to tackle the issue.
Don’t expect any definitive decision on this controversy until at least next February.
Policy Committee chair Kevin Larson says a sub committee is being struck to study the issue and report back.
The move comes on the heels of petitions being handed in from various areas, bearing over two thousand signatures in favour of the Gideon’s program of Bible distribution to Grade 5 students, on signed approval from their parents.
The Chair of Sauble Christian Fellowship Church in Sauble Beach Murray Gostick says he presented a petition with 19 hundred names from the Owen Sound area.
There were also petitions from the Hanover area with 800 signees and another 600 signed their support from the Flesherton area.
Trustee Terry Bell, meanwhile, has volunteered to sit on the sub-committee and called on input from the public, both pro and con.
Bell cautioned the committee that whatever the decision they must seek legal advice to make sure any Charter of Rights issues are being met.
He suggests that if all religions were allowed to do the same as the Gideon’s then perhaps that would cover that issue.
However, Bell said he wanted to hear from people who may think the Bible has no place in the school at all at this time.
In the crowd was Ann Gillies of Dundalk who hopes the board maintains the Gideon service in some shape or form.
She says she remembers getting a Bible in Grade 5; her kids got Bibles and she hopes her grandchildren will as well.
Later when the board went into regular session, the subject was not over.
Concerned parent Timothy Ferrier of Chesley says shutting down conversations about religions of the world can create intolerance.
He would like to see the program continue and if other faith groups want to take part, he has no problem with that.
Parent Bill Donovan caught some trustees off guard when he told the story of his daughter being bullied in school because her family were not church-goers.
Donovan says when the forms came out, he can only guess some children started talking about whether or not they believe in the Bible and her daughter was put at odds.
He says any religious activity in schools should come in curriculum form approved by the ministry.
