WWTBAM Bored

I am a Christian, but regarding the recent Texas law re posting commandments my questions are,

Establishment clause references federal imposition of religion. If you accept fed funds are you violating that clause?

If it's state's rights do you need to abolish Dept of Educ if funds are used or just stop accepting them?

I don't personally think any religious whatever should be posted in schools. Doesn't preclude teaching about them, but promoting, no. Otherwise one could say all other creeds should be posted.

Serious questions

Beebs52 wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 01, 2025 4:16 pm

Establishment clause references federal imposition of religion. If you accept fed funds are you violating that clause?

The 14th Amendment makes the guarantees contained in the Bill of Rights, including freedom of speech and religion, applicable to the states as well.

Would you say Tx posting commandments equals establishing a religion?

Beebs52 wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 01, 2025 6:06 pm

Would you say Tx posting commandments equals establishing a religion?

In a 1980 Kentucky case, the Supreme Court said that posting the Ten Commandments in school did constitute an establishment of religion. In addition to secular prohibitions against theft, murder, and adultery, the Commandments include statements that "Thou shalt not have any other Gods before Me" and a requirement to remember the Sabbath. I'd also note that different versions of the Bible have different versions of the Ten Commandments. The Jewish, Catholic, and Protestant versions all differ somewhat. (https://mirwriter.wordpress.com/2016/02 ... rotestant/) So, whichever version appears in the school would constitute an establishment of that particular religion.

One irony here is that many of the people who want the Ten Commandments in schools also support a President who breaks at least seven of them before breakfast every morning.

I agree. Think they're promoting King James version. Whatever.
Back in the day I objected to someone upset about a Christmas tree in a school play. No one worships trees, except, well...I won.
They will need to defend against other religions' lack of representation.
So.

Another thing, who in the school will be explaining the commandments to young kids? And in what context? Many of the tenets can be explained in civics, but some not so much.

elwoodblues wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 01, 2025 6:41 pm

One irony here is that many of the people who want the Ten Commandments in schools also support a President who breaks at least seven of them before breakfast every morning.

Do you actually know which seven?

Beebs52 wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 01, 2025 7:26 pm

elwoodblues wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 01, 2025 6:41 pm

One irony here is that many of the people who want the Ten Commandments in schools also support a President who breaks at least seven of them before breakfast every morning.

Do you actually know which seven?

It was a joke I thought of when the commandments in schools thing started, and I wanted to see how it would go over in a mostly pro-Trump forum.

elwoodblues wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 01, 2025 7:47 pm

Beebs52 wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 01, 2025 7:26 pm

elwoodblues wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 01, 2025 6:41 pm

One irony here is that many of the people who want the Ten Commandments in schools also support a President who breaks at least seven of them before breakfast every morning.

Do you actually know which seven?

It was a joke I thought of when the commandments in schools thing started, and I wanted to see how it would go over in a mostly pro-Trump forum.

You are funny. This is not a pro Trump forum! Snort.

Beebs52 wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 01, 2025 4:16 pm

I am a Christian, but regarding the recent Texas law re posting commandments my questions are,

Establishment clause references federal imposition of religion. If you accept fed funds are you violating that clause?

If it's state's rights do you need to abolish Dept of Educ if funds are used or just stop accepting them?

I don't personally think any religious whatever should be posted in schools. Doesn't preclude teaching about them, but promoting, no. Otherwise one could say all other creeds should be posted.

Serious questions

Before I retired this year, North Carolina considered a similar bill but it never went anywhere. But I considered how I would respond in my classroom if it had passed and decided I would post the Ten Commandments and right next to them would be the Seven Pillars of Islam, Buddhism's Eightfold Noble Path, and whatever other precepts I could find in order to avoid any impression of promoting one religion over the other.