Velson Taylor was the principal at New Bethel Elementary School in 1970. His wife taught the 2nd Grade there. I was in her class. One day, just like all other days, Mrs. Taylor read from the scriptures - not the Koran or the Book of Mormon - but from the Holy Bible. While she was reading, I noticed that my pencil needed to be sharpened. I rose from my desk, picked up my pencil, and began walking toward the pencil sharpener mounted at the back of the room.
Mrs. Taylor suddenly stopped her reading. I could feel her eyes on the back of my head. Soon I realized that the entire class was focused on me. As I sharpened my pencil, I was the center of all attention, a position I never wanted to be! I sheepishly made my way back to my desk. "David", Mrs. Taylor calmly, but firmly said, "We do not sharpen our pencils during the reading of the Bible."
It was at home that I learned that the Bible existed, I learned a few stories from the Bible at church, but it was at school that I learned to respect the reading of the Bible! Thank you Mrs. Taylor for teaching me the respect that people have shown for the Bible for thousands of years: Nehemiah 8:5 "And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up:" I wonder what Mrs. Taylor would think of the respect the Bible is getting in the schools today?
Mrs. Taylor suddenly stopped her reading. I could feel her eyes on the back of my head. Soon I realized that the entire class was focused on me. As I sharpened my pencil, I was the center of all attention, a position I never wanted to be! I sheepishly made my way back to my desk. "David", Mrs. Taylor calmly, but firmly said, "We do not sharpen our pencils during the reading of the Bible."
It was at home that I learned that the Bible existed, I learned a few stories from the Bible at church, but it was at school that I learned to respect the reading of the Bible! Thank you Mrs. Taylor for teaching me the respect that people have shown for the Bible for thousands of years: Nehemiah 8:5 "And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up:" I wonder what Mrs. Taylor would think of the respect the Bible is getting in the schools today?