During a speech on the House floor last Thursday, State Rep. Patrick Sellers (D-Pleasant Grove) gave a ringing endorsement of a bill that would require the Ten Commandments be displayed in schools.
“These are principles that our children need,” Sellers said. “And even if it’s just looking at it on the wall to remind them of what they and how they should live from day to day.”
The legislation requires each local board of education and the governing body of each public institution of higher education to display the Ten Commandments and a context statement in a common area of each school under its jurisdiction.
The bill passed overwhelmingly by a 81-11 vote.
“That’s what’s missing in our schools. That’s what’s missing in our homes, that’s what’s missing in our families. You need the word of God,” Sellers continued. “And here we debate whether or not to put it in a school that a child needs to see it. Yes, they need to see it. They need to know not to steal, how to treat their neighbor, how to treat their families, their mother and their father.”
Opponents of the bill say the bill violates the separation of church and state, but Sellers said this goes beyond pushing a particular religion.
“And some say, yeah, you cannot impress your religion. That’s not religion,” Sellers said. “That’s how you live. Yeah, religion is your practice, how you live deals with your heart and your character. And so listen, every school, every child, stop playing with our children. We have missed the mark, because so many don’t have this foundation. They do not have these principles. And when are we going to start really saying, Listen, this what we’ve missed, and this is what they need. I’m in support of your legislation.”
After speaking, many members of the House applauded.
The bill also requires the State Department of Education to identify and publicize free resources that local boards of education may use to comply with the display requirement.
Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on Twitter @Yaffee
