Organization urges students to take a Bible to school Thursday

Thursday is Take Your Bible to School Day and an online movement is encouraging students to express religious freedom.

A website dedicated to the day, Bring Your Bible, stated it is a student-led movement that wants more youth to talk about the Bible with other classmates.

ABC-7 reached out to local school districts about how students are allowed to observe the day.

Ysleta, El Paso, Canutillo and Socorro school districts were not aware about the day.

YISD said it does not officially recognize the day.

“Ysleta ISD does not have a policy directly saying that a student can not bring a bible to to school, but if a student feels that they want to bring a bible to school then they’re free to do so,” said Chris Lechuga, a district spokesman.

Lechuga added the reading and discussion of a Bible are allowed as long as it doesn’t interrupt instructional time.

EPISD said its students have the freedom to express their religion on campus by taking their Bible to campus.

In a statement, Gustavo Reveles, a district spokesman said, “Our libraries have copies of the Bible and other religious texts. We value diversity and that includes having open and friendly conversations about different religions.”

Canutillo ISD said it does not have any policies about students taking a Bible to school or having discussions about it with other students.

The Socorro School District sent ABC-7 a portion of SISD policy that states the district shall treat a student’s religious expression as it would any other viewpoint and shall not be discriminated against.

The Bring Your Bible website said 155,000 students participated last year.