Hi Frog,
"this is the Bible, and it's a book that has deep personal meaning for me, and if you're struggling with issues in your life, I invite you to check out the wisdom between these covers."
In Scotland the teacher would be cautioned for conversional teaching. By saying what your hypothetical teacher says s/he is implying that the Bible is better than any other book. I would agree with your scenario if the teachere said "this is a Bible, this is a Qur'an, this is the Dhamapada, this is the Guru Granth Sahib, this is the Rg Veda, etc.
The Bible is part of the teacher's faith and should remain personal. People underestimate the influence that teacher's have on their students. Younger students tend to believe that everything the teacher says is true, it is a great responsibility that cannot be abused.
In doing so it's entirely appropriate for them to bring up and promulgate their individual spiritual beliefs.
As long as they do it from an objective stance. As soon as they start promoting their faith above others, they should be cautioned. They shouldn't even be allowed to say "we believe that Jesus rose from the dead", they should say "Christians believe that Jesus rose from the dead.
There are classes devoted purely to the spiritual side of a student's development.
Brian.
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