Ten Commandments in WC Schools

LISA HOBBS – News Editor

The Warren County Board of Education will be considering whether to display the Ten Commandments in schools under a new state law that allows, but does not require, public schools and charter schools to display it and other historical documents.

For its monthly session on Thursday, Oct. 22, at 5 p.m., members have a lengthy agenda. Within it is “Tennessee House Bill 47,” which was signed into law on May 14 and went into effect on July 1.

Under the new law, schools are allowed to post the following documents in prominent places:

1)      The first sentence of the second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence preamble – “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

2)      The preamble to the U.S. Constitution – “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

3)      The Ten Commandments.

4)      And any additional historically significant documents as determined by local boards.

The bill states that the purpose of these displays is to educate students on the historical significance and shared cultural heritage represented by these documents.

According to Director of Schools Dr. Grant Swallows when contacted by Warren County Way, the specific item to be considered is displaying the Ten Commandments.