Summary and Conclusion

We the board of the Public Bible Study Committee (Bible in the Schools) have stated the case for biblical education in America and specifically for teaching Bible History courses in the public schools of Hamilton County, Tennessee. While attempts by public school teachers to change a student's religious beliefs by either disparaging or encouraging particular dogmas are unconstitutional, objectively teaching the Bible as an academic subject is both constitutionally permissible and educationally necessary. So much of the art, music, history, law, culture, and moral standards of Western civilization are based on the Bible, that to be culturally literate, a truly educated American requires biblical knowledge. Representative of the views of many other Founding Fathers and former presidents is the statement of John Quincy Adams that "with regard to the history contained in the Bible, it is not so much praiseworthy to be acquainted with it as it is shameful to be ignorant of it."

Fortunately, students in Hamilton County have had the opportunity to study the Bible in their public school classrooms since 1922. In 2004-05 more than 3,000 students in 16 middle and high schools will elect one or more of the five for-credit Bible history courses. The 13 certified, professional teachers are selected, employed, and supervised by the Hamilton County Department of Education. Funding is provided through private, charitable donations. The Public School Bible Study Committee is a 501(c)(3) organization through which tax-deductible contributions are transmitted to the Department of Education, thereby making the elective Bible History courses a gift to the community at no taxpayer expense.

The mission of Bible in the Schools is to create citizens of character by enriching the next generation with the truth and knowledge of the Bible.

Our vision is to give every public school student in Hamilton County, Tennessee, the opportunity to elect the study of the Bible, the most popular and influential book ever written, the foundational document of Western civilization.

We view our purpose as being to provide a course on the Bible for the students of Hamilton County schools. For the young people of greater Chattanooga, the program provides Bible History courses taught by qualified teachers, unshaded by interpretation, and presented in a controlled curriculum.

Our invitation to you is to join us in presenting this precious gift to the public school students in Hamilton County. By your financial contribution for the cost of one student ($250) to the full support of one teacher ($60,000), you will be partnering with us as together our investments enrich the next generation with the truth and knowledge of the Bible.

Please consider an investment in the next generation!

Public School Bible Study Committee
(Bible in the Schools)
L. B. (Pete) Austin III, Chairman
Douglas K. Stromberg, President
Fall 2004