Riel set to debate distribution of Gideon bibles in schools

There’s a debate brewing at the Louis Riel School Division about the distribution of Gideon Bibles to students.

The practice of distributing the bibles was commonplace up until about a dozen years ago. At that time permission slips were sent home with students so parents could decide whether their child should receive one.

The division is now trying to decide whether that practice should continue.

“The issue has gone to the standing committee on education... which is made up of trustees and administrators,” said Tim Watters, director of school and community support at Riel.

Watters said this is the first time the issue has had to be debated.

Pastor Bruce Martin of The Community of Cavalry Temple, said more and more schools don’t want the bibles distributed, even if some parents would OK it.

“It’s based on the fact that one or two people have complained,” he said.

Martin believes the permission slips are the best way to appease everybody.

“We feel that’s a very fair way, in our pluralistic world, to distribute the bibles,” he said.

Last June, the Winnipeg School Division changed its policy about distributing special literature in schools and stopped the practice of handing out bibles.

Board chairwoman Kristine Barr said the division is working with the Province to increase learning on world religious perspectives in social science classes.