” … To remove Bible and prayer from our public schools, may be the most spiritually significant eventover the course of the last 55 years,” says William Jeynes, a professor at California State College in Long Beach. In 1963, Abington School District v. Schempp, the Court ruled Bible reading unconstitutional, saying it was establishment of religion.

However, when Bible reading is refused, the next step is totally forsaking the Bible and its moral standards. Data from federal investigations show five negative results having surfaced since 1963, including: academic achievement, including SAT scores; increased out-of-wedlock births, student drug usage, juvenile crime rate and student behavior deterioration. Jeynes warned, “We need to realize that these actions do have consequences. When we remove that moral fiber … this is what can result.” Ronald Reagan said, “If we lose our Christianity, we will lose our country.” His prophetic words are coming true. What teachers used to complain about – gum and schoolyard squabbles, has turned to thievery, assault and violence.

The Founding Fathers believed the Bible in schools was necessary. Noah Webster, known for the American dictionary, declared,”Education is useless without the Bible. The Bible is America’s basic textbook in all fields.” Dr. Benjamin Rush, “Father of the Public Schools under the Constitution,” agreed, “The only means of establishing and perpetuating our republican form of government is the universal education of our youth in the principles of Christianity by means of the Bible.” The Founding Fathers understood how important it is for students to be taught the principles of God’s Word, for they will be the next political leaders.

To remedy this problem, the Bible has been taught as literature, and prayer replaced by a “moment of silence.” However, the Bible is more than common literature; it is the inspired Word of God. John Jay, the first chief justice of the Supreme Court, said, “The Bible is the best of all books, for it is the word of God … Continue therefore to read it and regulate your life by its precepts.” This secular approach towards the Bible devalues God’s Word, for it is then taught as just another form of religion – another author’s fallible work. However, in it lies the only true religion with the power to change lives. Without God’s Light in schools, students stumble in darkness, searching for the Truth. Noah Webster said, “Any system of education which … rejects the aids of religion in forming the characters of citizens, is essentially defective.”