February 2011

Note from the Editor
We apologize for the lack of a January issue of Teaching the Bible. This e-pub will now move to a bi-monthly publication schedule. We welcome your feedback on future topics or resources you would like featured in TB, as well as any questions you may have. Send your comments to: TB@sbl-site.org. Please forward this link to other interested readers.

Teaching the Bible is a free publication provided by the Society of Biblical Literature--just click on the subscribe button to be added to the mailing list. Thanks for reading!

About the Society of Biblical Literature (SBL)
The SBL was founded in 1880 and is an international academic membership organization for people who teach, study, or are interested in academic study of the Bible and its related contexts and literatures. The Society’s mission is to foster biblical scholarship and does not hold any denominational or confessional stance, though many of our members are religious leaders.

Feature Essay

Facing Faith in American Public Schools
By Charles C. Haynes

In the Fall of 2009, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair initiated a project to bring students from around the world into conversations around questions of religious beliefs and practices. We reprint this article about it, and would love to hear from anyone who has participated in this program.

Web Resources

Related Resources on the SBL website
A guided tour to the related resources on the SBL website of interest to secondary teachers and to those following national (and international) developments on Bible electives in public schools.

Related External Links
For those interested in following the latest news on Bible electives in public schools and first amendment issues, here is a recent sampling:

CLU Looks at Big Spring (TX) ISD's Bible Curriculum

Big Spring (TX) Superintendent's Response to ALCU Changes 1/19/11

Senator Denny Altes pre-files a bill requiring the Arkansas Department of Education to create Bible curriculum

Giles County School Board Votes to Put the Ten Commandments Back on Display
Source: First Freedom Center

Virginia school board votes to return Ten Commandments displays to schools
Source: legalclips.nsba.org

Scholars Praise Statute for Religious Freedom at University of Mary Washington Panel
Source: First Freedom Center