While there is constitutional separation of church and state in the US, but the UK has the Head of State as the Head of the Established Church, it seems interesting (to this outsider) that public discourse in the US invokes enormously more god-bothering than seems to be the case in the UK.
On another point,
But religion can only be taught from the viewpoint of the teacher.
In fact any subject can only be taught convincingly by someone who is convinced of it's value.

This is both a strength and a weakness. I'd prefer my offspring to be taught science by someone who'd had actual experience of being a proper scientist (ditto for maths, music etc), rather than someone who'd only done a degree in Science Education. If I were forced to have them taught religious principles/philosophy (in Oz it's not compulsory in govt-run schools) I'd prefer them to be so taught by people with a detached and rational perspective rather than a passionate or committed one.

And where could one find support, in the UK RE system, for the "proper" teaching of atheism (surely categorisable as a "religion"), let alone by passionately committed atheists?

Cheers, Rowan