Why Schools Can Legally Offer Electives on Jesus& Biblical Values

In a culture hungry for meaning, values, and truth, many parents and students are asking the same question: Why can't we learn more about God, Jesus, and biblical family values in school? The good news is, they absolutely can. As Catholics, we believe the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, the love and wisdom of God, and the power of biblical values can radically shape young minds for the better. From the story of the Good Samaritan to the call to forgive seventy times seven, these are lessons of compassion, moral courage, and spiritual truth that every child can benefit from. And legally? The U.S. Constitution fully allows it-as long as it’s done the right way.

What the Law Actually Says

The First Amendment prohibits public schools from endorsing religion, but not from educating about religion. This distinction is crucial. The Supreme Court made this clear in Abington School District v. Schempp (1963). In that case, the Court ruled that while public schools cannot require Bible readings or prayer, they can include the Bible and religion in the curriculum for their historical, literary, or cultural significance (374 U.S. 203).

Later, in Epperson v. Arkansas (1968), the Court again affirmed that schools may teach religious content as long as it's presented in a neutral and educational context (393 U.S. 97). So if a school offers an elective course that objectively examines Christianity, Jesus' teachings, or biblical values, without preaching or coercing - it is entirely constitutional.

The Supreme Court’s ruling in Zorach v. Clauson (1952) also supports this idea, upholding voluntary, off-campus religious instruction during school hours (343 U.S. 306). More recently, Church of the Lukumi Babalu Aye v. City of Hialeah (1993) reinforced the importance of religious neutrality and the rights of individuals to freely exercise their faith (508 U.S. 520).

Even the U.S. Department of Education clarified in its 2000 guidelines that “public schools may teach about religion, including the Bible... in an objective manner.”

What This Means for Our Schools

This means your local school board has the legal authority to offer elective classes that:

Teach about Jesus’ life and teachings
Explore the moral lessons of the Bible
Present family values like forgiveness, charity, respect, and responsibility
Show how Christianity has shaped art, literature, and history

These courses would not evangelize or require belief, they would educate. Just like electives on world religions or philosophy, students could opt in voluntarily. This protects both religious liberty and individual choice.

Why It Matters Now

With 81% of Americans believing in God, and millions of children struggling with anxiety, confusion, and a lack of moral grounding, we must ask: What are we waiting for? Students take electives in coding, art, and cooking - why not values? Why not Christ?

Offering courses on God and the Bible can:

Promote compassion and responsibility
Encourage respect for parents and authority
Equip students to make moral decisions
Reconnect young people with faith-filled traditions that strengthen families and communities

These values are not just "religious", they are deeply human, and desperately needed.

How to Make It Happen

If you’re a parent, grandparent, teacher, or student, here’s what you can do:

Petition your school board to add a voluntary elective on Christianity or biblical values.
Speak up at meetings - share this blog and the legal cases listed above.
Form a coalition of parents, clergy, and educators to support a curriculum design that’s respectful, neutral, and inspiring.
Support teachers who are willing to be trained in how to lead such classes effectively.

We’ve taught generations how to succeed in the world. Isn’t it time we taught them how to seek truth, love well, and live with purpose?

It’s Legal. It’s Needed. Let’s Do It.

It is entirely legal to offer electives that teach students about Jesus, God, and biblical family values, so long as it’s voluntary, objective, and educational. These classes can shape lives without violating rights. They can uplift students, families, and entire communities. Let’s be the generation that brought God back to the classroom - respectfully, joyfully, and constitutionally.

Let’s make faith-filled education a choice for every family!