A Tennessee non-profit celebrated its 100th year with a hefty donation to Hamilton County public schools so they can offer Bible history elective classes for the 2021/2022 school year.
Since 1922, Bible in the Schools (BITS) has made it possible for the county’s schools to offer the courses for 6th through 12th grade and this year gifted a $1.8 million reimbursement gift for the program, Faithwire reports.
“As we approach our 100th school year, it is an honor to present this gift to our public schools, as it represents the heart behind so many donors in this community,” BITS Chairman Tom Glenn said. “Such generosity makes the gift of Bible History available to so many young lives.”
Although the classes have been available in Hamilton County schools for decades, 2021/2022 has seen its highest enrollment numbers with over 19,000 enrolled in the Bible history elective courses and 1 in 4 completing a course for graduation credit.
The classes are lawful, constitutional, and entirely consistent with federal guidelines and state Department of Education academic standards.
“Studying Bible History in our public schools helps ground and awaken students to the rich cultural footprint that the Bible has had on history while offering students hope, values, and life lessons relevant to the tough issues they wrestle with daily,” BITS President Cathy Scott explained.
“We believe that a knowledge of the Bible is a key component to a well-rounded education that encourages students to not just be passive observers of society, but active contributors,” she said.
Indeed, the Bible is the most widely read book in the world, a remarkable and accurate historical document, and has been the guiding philosophical light of western civilization for centuries. Many of our nation’s great academic institutions were founded to improve Bible literacy and many of the Founding Fathers believed that American schoolchildren ought to be well-versed in its contents and teachings.
“Hamilton County seeks to graduate students who are future-ready and prepared for success in college and career,” Dr. Bryan Johnson, superintendent of Hamilton County schools, noted. “By thinking critically and engaging in historically rich conversations, HCS is preparing students to become global thinkers and responsible citizens.”
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