Principal Sends Back Christian Textbooks

Under pressure from the American Civil Liberties Union, a public elementary school principal has boxed up Christian textbooks that describe other religions as cults and say that God helped Columbus discover America.

Steven J. Wentland, who also serves as superintendent of the 60-student, one-school district, said Wednesday that “every last flashcard” would be delivered back to A Beka Books Inc., a Pensacola, Fla.-based Christian publishing company.

Wentland, whose business cards read, “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,” said it was never his intention to endorse one religion over another, but rather to find the best books he could for his district.

“We’ll pull them out. It’s OK,” he said, adding that he doesn’t want to get into a courtroom battle or generate any more negative publicity. “We don’t hold any grudges.”

Wentland, a towering man with close-cropped hair and wire-rimmed glasses who oversees five teachers at Belridge Elementary, approved the use of the A Beka curriculum after holding public meetings about the contents over the summer.

A Beka describes itself as “unashamedly Christian and traditional in its approach.”