In the US, at least, I think a lot of it has to do with the "separation of Church and State". NOTHING remotely dealing with "RELIGION" can be taught or expressed in the public school system, so NO references to the Bible, Koran, etc. are allowed.

As my Mum used to say, "I don't care what your religion is, if you can't understand the references, you are un-educated." There are just too many references in society/literature to ignore religion altogether.

Even though I have tried hard,neither of my children understand referances such as "In My house there are many mansions" or even, "Ask not what your country can do for you", let alone quotes from the Koran, Omar Kahyim, Dickens, Hemmingway, Shute, Rand, Kipling, etc.

Sad, huh? Perhaps Education has reached its' lowest common denominator.........

As in "Teach the least of them and let the best of them go hang". We do, after all, have to teach them all, even the "least" of them........gods forbid one should not graduate from secondary school.......