Newton South High School in Massachusetts exempted a student from an assignment to read parts of the Bible because the student said he was an atheist. This was part of a unit in Honors English on cultural traditions.

While atheists should not be required to believe the Bible, they do not get to opt for cultural ignorance by refusing to understand it. The Bible is one of, if not the most, important book in the entirety of western culture. Regardless of your religion, you’re a fool to not appreciate its influence on the very culture you live in. School is about education. It doesn’t mean you’re exempted from hearing anything you disagree with.

As for the school, what is the precedent they have set here? Will pacifists be able to opt out of studying war? Will pretty much everyone get out of studying Greek mythology? This was a bad decision plain and simple. Bad for the school, bad for the student, just, well… bad.