Tennessee bill proposes displaying Ten Commandments in public schools

The Tennessee Legislature will soon consider a bill to encourage public schools to display historical documents, including the Ten Commandments.

House Bill 47, sponsored by Rep. Michael Hale, R-District 40, would encourage public schools to display “historically significant documents” such as the Ten Commandments, the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. and Tennessee Constitutions, and the Bill of Rights.

The purpose of such a display would be to “educate students on the historical significance and common cultural heritage the documents have” for Americans.

But even though the Legislature won’t convene until Jan. 14, the proposal has already gained opponents.  

“Ten Commandments are not bad. I don’t think anybody’s saying that,” commented J.C. Bowman, head of the Professional Educators of Tennessee. “I do think that what we’re saying is that, how much more can we continue to put on schools before we lose our focus on education? 

Nonetheless, Tennessee isn’t the only state renewing an emphasis on Christianity’s role in American history. Louisiana, Utah, Oklahoma and Texas have all passed measures promoting the Bible and Ten Commandments in public education.  

Louisiana’s legal battle over its bill has some Tennesseans wary of HB 47’s chances of success.  

“Of course, the Supreme Court is free to rule otherwise, but from the 1940s onward, there has been a concern about coercing children into doing something that their parents religiously might not approve of,” said James Hudnut-Beumler, a professor of American religious history at Vanderbilt. 

Hale defended his bill, saying it would empower districts to make the best decision for their students without any blanket mandates.  

“Local communities and officials know what’s best for their students and families,” Hale told The Tennessean. “House Bill 47 reinforces this by giving local school boards and charter schools the option, not the requirement, to display historically significant documents like the Ten Commandments, the Declaration of Independence, and the state Constitution.  

“The bill empowers communities and elected officials to make decisions for their schools and protect their authority to do so.”