Education Extra
Public school students throughout Ala. are learning the Bible during the school day thanks to School Ministries Alabama. While similar classes have been held nationwide for over 100 years, it’s a relatively new concept for most Ala. schools.
How It Works. “School Ministries Alabama is active in communities and school districts around the state to promote one particular free exercise of religion that doesn’t entangle the school district or cross over that fictitious ‘wall of separation’,” explains Winston Greer, Executive Secretary of the School Ministries Alabama (SMA) Board of Directors. He adds, “It is a religious freedom that is little known, often misunderstood, and underutilized by the evangelical Christian community. It is called Released Time Bible Education.” Released Time Bible Education (RTBE) allows parents to grant permission for their child to be excused from public school during the school day to receive private Bible instruction. This practice has been constitutionally permitted since the Supreme Court’s 1952 decision in Zorach v. Clauson, which ruled that students may participate in religious instruction during school hours as long as parental consent is given, the classes are held off public school grounds, and the program is privately funded. “School Ministries Alabama is a non-profit, 501(c)(3), state office affiliate of School Ministries, Inc., a national organization of RTBE programs in the U.S. We presently have twelve classes operating in six Alabama school districts and have been authorized by another three to begin Bible classes in their school districts, with more classes and districts actively pending.”
“School Ministries Alabama works within the legal boundaries of the U.S. Constitution and Alabama state law to offer an opportunity for public school students to receive, with the permission of a parent, Bible education during the structure of the school day, and at no cost to the school,” Kasey Burleson, President of School Ministries Alabama, explains, adding, “For some, this may be the first and only opportunity in their young lives to learn from His Word about the God who creates, forgives, and can lead them with purpose, in peace and joy, their entire life – now and for all eternity.”
Inside the Classroom. “A typical class for intermediate and middle school students meets once a week, and begins with an opening prayer by the teacher followed by a lesson from either God’s Rescue Mission or Jesus On Mission Student Guide books, Greer explains. Classes generally close with student requests. Greer adds that the high school elective credit Bible education classes are similar in routine but have to meet the number of contact hours required by the school district for elective course credit, generally five 50-minute class sessions each week. Lessons are taught from SMA’s “Worldview” curriculum; the first semester covers the Old Testament and the second semester covers New Testament and World Religions. School Ministries Alabama classes in the Birmingham area include Oak Mountain Intermediate School, Booker T. Washington School, and more. To learn more and register your child to attend SMA, visit www.smalabama.org. †
