And Just Like That, It Stopped

Fourth grade. Mrs. Morgan, one of my favorite teachers ever. The Lincoln Building. A chilly morning. But I wasn’t shaking because of being cold. Today was my day to read in front of the class. I was an introvert way back then too. I hated to do anything in front of my fellow students. But, as much as I hated it, it was my turn. My turn came up about every five weeks. Every school morning it was someone else’s turn. Yes, it was my turn to read the Bible. Anyone under the age of 60, most likely never had to do this in school. Unless, of course, you went to Catholic school.

Of course, I read it without question. It’s what we did. I’m a rule follower. Plus, this was Slatington in 1962. White Slatington. Christian Slatington. Republican Slatington. We all knew the only two Jewish people in the entire town. They owned Kramer’s Shoe Store. Pretty sure no Muslims, Hindus, nor Buddhists. Then, just like that, we get to fifth grade, and we no longer read the Bible in school. The Supreme Court said that forcing kids to read the Bible in public school crossed the boundary between church and state. It was replaced with a moment of silence.

Back then I thought nothing of it. Like I said, I’m a rule follower. Oh, so this is what we do now? Okay, I’ll do this then. But my junior high years and high school years that followed were a time of great change in our country. We were all questioning everything. It was then that I started to care about what was going on in the world and what was going on in our government. It was then that I gained my liberal views that I have kept until this day. I finally realized how important that wall between church and state is. Since I am a non-Christian, it becomes even more important.

I’m sorry about that little political rant in this non-political blog. But it’s important to me. Let me end by saying again how much I loved my elementary school years. The Lincoln Building. Mrs. Morgan, Mrs. Kreiss, Mr. Dorward. Even our “specials teachers”, Mr. Garrity, Mrs. Oswald, and Ms. Kane. I even loved the little rituals like the bell to start classes, the handing in our lunch money and money for our school savings account. That moment of silence, and the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance. Uh oh. Don’t get me started on that last one!