No more Bibles for Abbotsford public school kids

Public elementaryschool children in Abbotsford, B.C. will no longer be offered free bibles.

"Our public schools should be secular and safe places for students where they don't have to feel schools are pushing a certain view on them," saidB.C. Humanist Associationexecutive directorIanBushfield.

Last year112 Bibles were distributed inAbbotsfordpublic schools aftertheschool districtsent home a consent formoffering themto all Grade 5students.

• Gideonsversus Godless:Abbotsfordpublic schools criticized for distributing bibles

In March, the BCHAsent a letter to thedistrictcalling for the practice to stop.The district said it would review its policies.

"After having reviewed the procedures related to the distribution of materials to students, the district will no longer distribute the Gideon Bible or other religious materials to students," wrote the district in reply to the BCHA's letter.

Bushfield said the Abbotsford schooldistrict is the last in the province to put an end to handing out religious materials.

He said it shows parents and students they are welcome in Abbotsford, regardless of religion.

But Bushfield warned the BCHA will continue to monitor the school district.

"We're going to keep our eye out because we hear, every once and a while, little stories of schools that maybe do their graduation in a church, or something that might make students feel uncomfortable, and we want to be aware of that," he said.

Last month an Abbotsford mother spoke out whenboth her son and daughter came home from elementary school with a brochure for a Christian basketball program Athletes in Action that "encourages players to discover a relationship with Jesus Christ," according to its website.

The Abbotsford School District said it is not commenting on the issue.

With files from AnitaBathe