Arizona bill to allow Ten Commandments in public school classrooms passes Senate, moves to House

The Arizona Senate passed a bill that would allow the Ten Commandments to be posted and read aloud in public school classrooms.

Senate Bill 1151, sponsored by Sen. Anthony Kern, R-District 20, passed in a 16-12 vote last week.

The measure would add the Ten Commandments to a list of materials allowed in public schools. 

The existing list includes the Declaration of Independence, the national anthem, the national motto “In God We Trust,” and the Pledge of Allegiance. 

“The progressive slide down in our country right now is because we have taken the Ten Commandments away from our schools,” Kern said, according to AZ Central.  

The bill drew criticism from Democrat senators, who voted against the bill unanimously.  

Sen. Mitzi Epstein, D-District 18, claimed the bill was a form of indoctrination. 

“Please take a moment to think about how you would feel as the parent of a child who has to be in a classroom who is commanded to do something that you do not believe,” Epstein said.  

During the session, however, Kern said his bill isn’t a mandate but rather an “opt-in” bill.  

“Teachers have full authority to post, to read, or not to read,” Kern said, according to AZ Central.  

Last year, a similar bill in Texas passed the Senate but failed in the House.  

In Arizona, the bill has moved to the House, where it’s been assigned to the Rules Committee and the Education Committee.