Six-Year-Old Girl Rebuked by Teacher: 'No Talking About Bible in School'

By Lauren Leigh Noske 15 Jan, 2014 22:30 EST

First grade student told not to talk about religion no jesus allowed at school — Photo courtesy of NBC Southern California

Brynn Williams was interrupted and rebuked by her teacher at an elementary school in Temecula, California last month while giving a speech for a school assignment on Christmas family traditions about her family's celebration of Jesus Christ's birth.

Fox News reports that the first grade students in Brynn's class were asked to give a one-minute speech on an item that represented a family Christian tradition, and Brynn had brought the star of Bethlehem to class, which her family puts atop their Christmas tree. Her speech was about how her family focuses on the birth of Jesus Christ during the Christmas season - "The three kings followed the star to find baby Jesus, the Savior of the world," she told the class, just before being interrupted by her teacher. Brynn's teacher told her to "Stop right there!" and asked the six-year-old to take her seat. She then told Brynn in front of her entire class that she was not allowed to talk about the Bible.

"She was hurt," Brynn's father, Shane Williams, told NBC News - "[Brynn] felt that she had done something wrong and was going to be punished for it." Upon hearing the story from Brynn after school, Gina Williams tried to comfort her daughter - "I told her she was not in trouble, and I was proud of her," she said.

The Williams family was told by the principal that Brynn's teacher was following the proper procedures established by the school and was trying to protect the other students from being offended by Brynn's speech. Yet, NBC News reports that the school's policies read:

"Students may express their beliefs about religion in their homework, artwork and other class work if the expression is germane to the assignment."

Lawyers with The Advocates for Faith & Freedom have contacted the elementary school, asking that they apologize to Brynn and demanding that the school protect the children's religious liberties. "Students do not shed their constitutional rights by entering the schoolhouse gates. They have first-amendment liberties of speech," says the organization's general counsel, Robert Tyler.

Brynn had hoped to recite John 3:16 to end her presentation, but never got the chance to. It reads:

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life" (English Standard Version).

Survey: Hong Kong teens generally identify with traditional Chinese cultural values

In order an effort to promote traditional Chinese culture, the Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong, in collaboration with Macao YMCA, Guangzhou Suigang'ao Teenagers Institute, and the Teacher Chang Foundation of Taiwan, has conducted a survey on teens measuring their cultural awareness. They found that Hong Kong youths generally identify with and support the values of traditional Chinese culture.
Global Lutherans celebrate Reformation Day, ‘trusting in the power of grace in a merciless time’.
Yesterday, October 31, was Reformation Day, and Lutherans around the world held various events in commemoration. In Singapore, the Lutheran Church advocated for Christian communion, while the German Lutheran Church encouraged believers to face the challenge of “trusting in the power of grace in a merciless time.”
Many American churchgoers expect their pastors’ sermons to help them understand and address modern cultural issues
American churchgoers are looking for more than biblical explanation from their pastor each week. Many expect the sermons to help them understand and address modern cultural issues.
2.1M Korean Christians estimated at joint worship service to affirm family, oppose gay marriage, pray for nation
In the afternoon of Reformation Sunday, Oct. 27, some 2.1 million Christians gathered for a joint worship service from 2pm to 5pm in Seoul, Korea to “unite for repentance, revival, and restoration of holiness in our society.” According to organizers, an estimated 1.1 million joined onsite despite the bad weather with another 1 million joining online. The unprecedented joint worship service brought together Korean churches across denominations as they affirmed traditional marriage and family and
Willow Creek Community Church invites believers to write prayer cards for the next president
This past Sunday, Willow Creek Community Church based in Illinois invited believers to “pray for the next president” during the service. The church not only expressed its concern for the upcoming election but also emphasized the role believers should play in the process and the importance of offering prayers for the nation's leaders.

Six-Year-Old Girl Rebuked by Teacher: 'No Talking About Bible in School'

Survey: Hong Kong teens generally identify with traditional Chinese cultural values

Many American churchgoers expect their pastors’ sermons to help them understand and address modern cultural issues American churchgoers are looking for more than biblical explanation from their pastor each week. Many expect the sermons to help them understand and address modern cultural issues.

Survey: Hong Kong teens generally identify with traditional Chinese cultural values

Global Lutherans celebrate Reformation Day, ‘trusting in the power of grace in a merciless time’.

Many American churchgoers expect their pastors’ sermons to help them understand and address modern cultural issues

2.1M Korean Christians estimated at joint worship service to affirm family, oppose gay marriage, pray for nation

Many American churchgoers expect their pastors’ sermons to help them understand and address modern cultural issues
American churchgoers are looking for more than biblical explanation from their pastor each week. Many expect the sermons to help them understand and address modern cultural issues.