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Bible’s academic value now widely
recognized: Recent national media coverage shows overwhelming
support among educators for Bible literacy courses in public high
school. Research shows that students' ability to understand literature,
art, history and music and culture is harmed by ignorance of this
foundational document of Western civilization.
As the Chicago Tribune wrote in one editorial, "When [public
schools] decline to impart knowledge about such an important subject
[the Bible], they are not doing anything to preserve the separation of
church and state. They are merely failing their students."
Academic study of the Bible is legal
nationwide: In the past, teachers have been fearful about how
to teach about the Bible, although the courts have said that academic
study of the Bible is beneficial for education, and that it is legal to
teach biblical content but not promote nor disparage belief. Only 8% of
the nation's public high schools offer Bible electives; our goal is to
increase that level to 80%.
Hundreds of U.S. public schools offer Bible
electives without controversy or complaint: They teach from
The Bible and Its Influence, the first and only student textbook
created for public high school literature or social studies electives
about the Bible. Reviewed by 40 scholars -- Evangelical, Catholic,
mainline Protestant, Orthodox, and Jewish -- it acknowledges the respect
the Bible deserves as sacred text for faith traditions. Educators
appreciate the university-based online teacher training and accompanying
440-page wraparound Teacher's Edition also offered by the Bible Literacy
Project.
 Meets legal standards: The Bible and Its
Influence is constitutionally sound because it meets legal standards
set by the National School Boards Association (NSBA). It fulfills the
consensus legal standards in The Bible and Public Schools: A First
Amendment Guide, which was endorsed by 21 national organizations,
including the NSBA, National Association of Evangelicals, National
Education Association, and American Jewish Congress. In addition, the
Winter 2007 Baylor Law Review’s extensive analysis concluded that
The Bible and Its Influence "clearly conforms to constitutional
standards" and recommended its adoption by public schools.
Acclaimed by teachers and leaders:
Public school teacher Barbara Blinn said, "When someone first proposed
this course, I voted it down because I didn't want to support what I
thought might be a watered-down presentation of the Bible. But when I
saw the textbook itself, I was thrilled. The Bible and Its Influence
is exactly what it needs to be -- respectful of the sacred text,
instructive, visually exciting and engaging. My students have absolutely
loved this course. By the second semester, we had a waiting list for the
course."
The Bible and Its Influence, used alongside the student’s own
Bible, presents the content and narrative of the Bible in a
straightforward fashion and preserves the ability of the parent or house
of worship to teach their perspective. The Bible Literacy Project has
formed a historic consensus across the broad range of Americans who
support our course, including evangelical leaders Chuck Colson, Leith
Anderson and Vonette Bright, Ellen Frankel of the Jewish
Publication Society, and Bishop Richard Sklba of the Catholic
Biblical Association.
Essential for a good education:
 Our
Bible Literacy Report found that 98% of English teachers
say Bible literacy gives a distinct academic advantage and 90%
say it is critical to a good education. Teachers said that an
alarming decline in Bible knowledge is eroding students'
understanding of British and American literature, art, music,
history and culture. |
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 Our second study, Bible Literacy Report
II, revealed that English professors surveyed at leading
universities--including Yale, Harvard, Princeton and Stanford
-- unanimously agreed that "regardless of a person's faith,
an educated person needs to know about the Bible.” |
Widely used: Today, this
course is used in 262 schools in 40 states and four foreign countries.
Educators realize the opportunity The Bible and Its Influence
offers -- a safe, trusted, legal and scholarly way to fill a major
void in American public education.
Bring this Bible elective to your school!
Here's how. |
