The Nation - News from Aug. 26, 1988

Three Marion, N.C., youngsters whose shouted sermons have disrupted school and led to their suspensions have agreed to stop preaching on school grounds, officials said. The Strode children--Duffey, 11, Pepper, 7, and Matthew, 6--left Eastfield Elementary School this week to begin home instruction. Each had been suspended five times last spring for shouting Bible verses outside school or for refusing to enter the building. David Strode had said his children would continue to preach at school. But after four hours of talks, McDowell County school Supt. David Ricketts said the Strodes had agreed not to preach at or disturb the schools. Ricketts said officials have dropped attempts to get Strode to sign an agreement to prevent future litigation. The children still will be taught at home.