Public schools require Bible reading over summer (a blast from the past)

Since we're on the topic of separation of religion and state, here's a story from 4 years ago about how this constitutional doctrine had already been gutted by mid-decade.

In 2005, 2 public high schools in Boca Raton, Florida, required students to read the Bible while they were on summer break. One of the schools required all 11th grade students to read 9 Bible chapters (or 11 if they were in advanced placement courses). The other school required it only for students in advanced classes.

One has to ask why all of the 11th graders at one of the schools were being given homework over the summer anyway. One also has to ask how the school expected to get away with violating the establishment clause right out in the open.

This followed a proposal by one of that area's high schools to offer a Bible class.

It's unknown how long this requirement lasted, or if these schools still require students to read the Bible over the summer. I guarantee you that if I went to a public school that required Bible reading, I'd be on the school's case immediately.

Why? To me, few things are more offensive than such unmistakable violations of the Bill of Rights. Sure, there's things in the Constitution that have to be interpreted. But I thought this issue was settled at least 50 years ago.

(Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel 5/26/05)