I have used The Bible in various senior English classes for years. Both Old and New Testaments. It is too important a book to be omitted from any serious study of liturature. When students have essays to write, I often allow them to choose their topics, because I am interested in their writing, not necessarily what they write about. I have had kids do essays on everything from Creationism to Darwinism; Catholicism to Atheism; Druids to Pagans; Japanese art to The Group of Seven; aardvarks to zebras. I teach now in a Catholic school. I have taught in Native schools, prisons and public schools. I will not be dictated to by anyone objecting to what students write about--the guideline being that it must be acceptable to their parents or guardians. The notion of appeasing every sensibility is absolutely stupid. IMO, if you try to please everyone, you will please no one. We are fast becoming a nation of moronic writers and thinkers. I often instruct my students that they are entitled to an opinion. So are their classmates.

Recently one of my Grade 8 students--who is very proud of her Greek heritage--taught a class on the Greek alphabet to her peers. The class loved it. I was grateful to her because she corrected a misconception I had. What I had always pronounced THAYTA should have been pronounced THEETA. Live and learn. And we can't live and learn if we shut down free expression. Not in our schools, our society, our churches or our world. IMO.

PS She is Greek Orthodox. The next class she teaches will be about her religion.

BM