Story by Shark Tank reporter Special K
Giovanni Rubeo is a normal fifth grader at Park Lakes Elementary School in Broward County, Florida. On Christmas, he received a gift from his church: a bible, and soon became consumed reading it.“I love reading my Bible any time that I’m allowed to read it” said Gio. So, as part of “Free reading time” at his school, he chose to bring his favorite book to read privately to himself, making use of the 90 minute break to read the great stories of the Bible.
Seems innocuous, but soon enough his teacher, Swornia Thomas, began a systematic effort to stop Gio’s reading, and ban the Bible from “her” classroom. Why? Because Gio had a religious book.
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In March, and again in April, Thomas banned the book from her classroom, instructing Gio to bring something else to read, and Gio complied. During the April encounter, according to Gio, “When I was reading my Bible, Thomas said, ‘Giovanni, what book is that?’ I was a little afraid. She told me to put it on her desk and I said no.”
Thomas then continued in her efforts to humiliate Gio into submission, by sending him to the front of the classroom – in front of his peers and friends – to call his dad. His dad wasn’t home, so he left a voicemail. Thomas then left Gio’s father what can only be described as a highly unpleasant message on his voicemail.
“I noticed that he [Giovanni] has a book—a religious book—in the classroom. He’s not permitted to read those books in my classroom.” –Swornia Thomas
Unfortunately for Thomas, her authority does not supersede law or the US Constitution – because her behavior has been a clear and present violation of the First Amendment. The Liberty Institute is a legal firm specializing in religious liberty issues, and is now providing legal representation to Gio and the Rubeo family.
Hiram Sasser, Liberty’s Director, explains that he believes the school to have engaged in viewpoint discrimination, restricting the free exercise of religion and engaging in hostility towards religion. The organization beleves that “Kids in school do not shed their First Amendment rights when they come on the grounds of the school.”
But the story doesn’t end here. New evidence exclusively obtained by the SHARK TANK, shows that the 59-year-old teacher in question has been a staunch Democrat Party supporter, who has been registered as a Democrat since 1985. Is this a surprise to anyone? Nope.
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More protests against banning Gio’s Bible are planned this week.
