Keep "dancin"... the more you dance the easier it becomes... when all else fails... lie.

I think the proper answer is a version of "that's private, i do not discuss my beliefs"

This is a real problem. The fear of holding a belief. In some countries, you would be sentenced to death for holding some views. But even in a liberal country we are afraid of revealing our true nature due to fear of reprisal. How sad!!! I am lucky to live in a country where people are not persecuted for their views. So I can shout from the top of the roof that I do not have a religion and do not believe in any god without the fear of being hounded from my job. I don't know how I'll cope in a country where you have to hide your true feelings, views etc... just to fit in.

Why would your beliefs ever come up? If questioned, you can answer that the subject is personal and you don't feel the need to answer.

I was offered a teaching job a few years back, at a very strong Christian youth camp. I asked if my absence of belief would be an issue. They said as long as I thought the believe, attended prayers, sang hymns and never mentioned being an atheist I would be fine. They also said, many of the others wer atheists, just just have to keep it to themselves. I passed on the job.
Hell, tomorrow I assist the local food bank, which uses our community centre, I work bloody hard, but they don't want me to talk to the public because I am a heathen. Ha, fat chance, 1/2 the people there come to talk to me, I spend most of my time walking around supposedky gardening. People like to talk to the local nut.

Christian teachers have to do the same thing just in case there's an overzealous atheist parent. That's why teachers should just teach and keep their personal views on politics and religions to themselves.

What you are doing is making a tough gig even tougher. With you in this struggle man.

The link below is a really good article citing cases on the subject. I think if you were for example Christian it falls under the establishment clause of endorsement of religion. But as you're an atheist I would love to see a ruling on it since those against atheism often decry using the First Amendment as protection for freedom of religion 'and freedom FROM religion'.

[freedomforuminstitute.org]

I'm a big proponent of separation of religion and government (church/state) I give you kudos/respect for your concern and interest towards your students' education. I think you are doing the right thing, you say that you teach world literature, and you are showing them a big part of world literature by educating your students about the bible.. it is literature. I also would suggest other holy books/texts for them to learn about..( Qur'an, Ḥadīth, The four Vedas, Upanishads, Bhramanas, Aranyakas and Bhagavad Gita make up the treasure of Sruti literature, the Torah, Septuagint) so many to choose from.. it's like human beings, as social creatures that have evolved through natural selection, found a social niche to cling to and base beliefs upon.. I say we need good, caring educators, that are seeking the best explanations that comport to our reality..

Don't you have a union to protect you and represent you if need be?

You are allowed to say you have no faith. That seems quite benign to me.

I presume these rabid parents would prefer that, over you being a Muslim or a Satanist.

What kind of teacher are you?

Yes, that would be tough. How does the school want you to react to those questions? Also, do they know your views, and you theirs?

That is a small price to pay for the important freedom. As a former high school teacher, I was glad to just not discuss religion in any way.