ACLU Stops Ten Commandments Posting

From Gateways to Better Education

 

 

ACLU Stops Ten Commandments Posting

(I've got a suggestion)

 

Dear Marilyn,

The Roanoke Times reports that the dad of a second-grade girl at Narrows Elementary School in Narrows, VA, wants the school district to display various American government documents, historical texts, and symbols, including the Ten Commandments.

The proposed display would include the Mayflower Compact, Virginia Declaration of Rights, the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution's Bill of Rights, the Magna Carta, sheet music of "The Star-Spangled Banner," a picture of Lady Justice, the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, and (drum roll please) the Ten Commandments.

 

As can be expected, the ACLU of Virginia is not happy. ACLU attorney Rebecca Glenberg remarked to the Times.

 

"I see here a bunch of documents related to U.S. history and one religious document."

 

The ACLU of Virginia and the Freedom From Religion Foundation have threatened a lawsuit that has kept the commandments off school walls since February, the Times reports.

 

I have an idea. Forget posting the Ten Commandments on a display that no student will even look at, much less, read. Instead of treating it like some kind of patriotic wallpaper in one school in the corner of the state, make sure teachers in the ENTIRE state of Virginia teach about the Ten Commandments AS EXPECTED in the state's academic standards.

 

The 2008 Virginia academic standards for World History expect students to:

 

"demonstrate knowledge of ancient river valley civilizations, including those of Mesopotamia, Egypt, the Indus River Valley, and China and the civilizations of the Hebrews, Phoenicians, and Nubians, by... [among other things] explaining the development of religious traditions, [and] describing the origins, beliefs, traditions, customs, and spread of Judaism."

That would pretty much cover the Ten Commandments (and a whole lot more).

 

In addition to this, the Virginia Department of Education lists as "Essential Knowledge" that students are expected to know "the essential beliefs of Judaism" (WHI.3d.Q1) and how Judaism influenced Western civilization (WHI.3d.Q2). Additionally, students are to learn about the "Ten Commandments, which state moral and religious conduct." (WHI.3d.B.3)

 

Symbolism can be wonderful. But, given the choice between symbolism and substance, I'll take substance any day.

 

(To research your state's academic standards, click here.)

 

Yours for Keeping the Faith in Public Schools,

Eric Buehrer
Gateways to Better Education

 

 

**************

 

After you check your own state's academic standards at the link above, you might also want to read this:

 

Keeping the Faith - Integrate Faith and the Public Schools Without Mixing Church and State by Eric Buehrer

 

Here's part of that article:

 

For years, a secular mindset among educators and school officials has pushed legitimate education about Christianity off to an ever-shrinking portion of a public school student’s life. The bias against appropriately teaching about the contributions of Christianity to society comes largely from educators who either think it is not legally allowed or that, even if allowed, it is not proper or culturally sensitive to do so.

 

Parents, educators, school officials, and students can calm their fears about the presence of Christianity in classrooms just by remembering the acronym C.A.L.M. because it is Culturally accurate, Academically expected, Legally supported, and Morally imperative.