Catch & release

Education | Across the country, public-school students are going to Bible studies–and it's entirely legal | Jamie Dean

Neil Cowley/Genesis Photos

GREENVILLE, S.C.—In a small classroom on the second floor of Mount Calvary Baptist Church (MCBC) in Greenville, S.C., eight little girls are learning about God's holiness. A poster on the wall colorfully illustrates the Bible story underscoring the lesson: Moses, the burning bush, and the piece of land that God called "holy ground." A cheerful teacher asks the attentive group of second- and third-graders: "Do you remember what holy means?" With a little help, the young voices answer: "separate."

Though that's more than some adults might know about the biblical term, this isn't Sunday school, and these kids don't go to this church. Instead, these are public-school students who often don't attend any church but leave school early once a week to learn about the Bible from a distinctly Christian perspective.