A Utah school district has reversed its decision to ban the Bible from elementary and middle school libraries.
The Davis School District, Utah's second biggest public system, banned the Bible in May after a parent complained about its "vulgarity" and "violence."
Utah School Reverses Bible Ban
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 06: U.S. Rep.-elect Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) reads a Bible in the House Chamber during the fourth day of voting for Speaker of the House at the U.S. Capitol Building on January 06, 2023 in Washington, DC.
As per the Associated Press (AP), Bibles are making their comeback in the northern Utah school district after its ban last month. Davis School District officials announced the ban reversal at a board meeting on Tuesday, June 20. They argue that the religious text is appropriate for elementary and middle school students.
The committee says, "The Bible has significant, serious value for minors which outweighs the violent or vulgar content it contains."
More than 70 people have appealed the ban, which took place last month. And now, the Davis School District board has sided with these complaints. And as such, the Bible is now accessible to all students again. The school district is home to roughly 72,000 learners to the North of Salt Lake City.
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Why Did the Utah School District Ban the Bible?
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 28: A member of the congregation carries a Bible during the Eternal Sacred Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church's annual Thanksgiving service on July 28, 2013 in the Elephant And Castle area of south London, England.
The Davis School District initially banned the Bible in May after a parent complained that it contained "vulgarity or violence."
According to NBC News, a parent filed a complaint to the Davis School District to ban the Bible from its bookshelves. The complainant did so to prove a point while criticizing the 2022 Utah law, which enables schools to remove books with "indecent" content. In other words, the move was an act of protest against book bans in the state.
BBC News notes that the Bible ban comes as the new law targeted several books which dive into topics of LGBT and racial identities. The Utah parent who complained says that the King James Bible "has no serious value for minors," arguing that it contains pornographic content, violating the Utah law banning books.
The eight-page complaint was pretty specific, noting that the Bible includes "prostitution," "dildos," "incest," and even "rape."
After its examination, the district ruling agreed that the holy scripture contains "vulgarity or violence not suitable for younger students." However, the committee decided to retain the religious text to bookshelves available to high school students.
However, students have not encountered the initial ban since they are still spending their summer vacation. Classes are resuming on August 17. With the new ruling, students in primary or high school are returning to their schools with the Bible available on bookshelves.
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