A bill proposed by a local lawmaker would require Indiana school corporations to display the Ten Commandments in each school library and classroom.
State Rep. Michelle Davis, R-Whiteland, introduced House Bill 1086, which “aims to educate Hoosier students on the moral values and principles that founded the state and nation.” Local schools would be required to display a picture or poster of the Ten Commandments in every classroom and library.
Last year, State Rep. J.D. Prescott, R-Union City, filed the same bill, but it wasn’t heard in committee. Since Davis is vice chair of the House Education Committee, she decided to file the bill this year, hoping it would gain some momentum, she told the Daily Journal.
“Indiana is built on faith, family and personal responsibility,” Davis said. “At a time when our culture is struggling with basic right and wrong, this legislation affirms the timeless morals and principles found in the Ten Commandments, such as honesty, respect for others and accountability.”
The Bible, in Exodus 20, says the Ten Commandments were given to Moses by God. There are 10 rules that are meant to guide humanity’s relationship with God and with each other. They include directives such as worshipping only God, keeping the Sabbath, honoring mothers and fathers, and prohibitions on lying, stealing and murder.
Davis believes historical documents such as the Declaration of Independence, Mayflower Compact and the Indiana Constitution affirm the role of religion in the establishment of both the state of Indiana and the U.S. She says the Ten Commandments acknowledge the historical and moral framework that has influenced the nation and that the U.S. Supreme Court has recognized that religion plays a role in the laws and culture of the country.
“Teaching students where our values come from will only help strengthen our kids rather than weaken them,” she said.
Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas have enacted similar laws to display the Ten Commandments in schools, and other states have proposed it through legislation or executive mandates.
Davis said schools should not erase history or moral foundations because of fear or misunderstandings. The goal of this bill is to provide a positive reminder for students to make positive impacts, she said.
“Schools are there to educate students academically, civically and ethically,” she said.
The bill has not progressed far enough to discuss what would happen if schools do not comply if the bill passes, she said.
“Students deserve an education that reflects the foundation of our laws and the principles that continue to guide our society,” she said. “Recognizing them in schools honors our history and reinforces the values Hoosiers still believe in today.”
HB 1086 was referred to the House Education Committee, but it hasn’t been assigned a hearing yet.
“I hope it helps unite (students) rather than divide them,” Davis said. “I hope it helps students learn to think critically about their ethics, responsibility and character. I hope it helps set the tone for having personal responsibility and having respect for others, leaders, teachers, properties and ideas instead of violence.”
In a related measure, Gov. Mike Braun and Attorney General Todd Rokita are also filing a motion in federal court asking to remove a more than 20-year-old injunction that blocks the placement of a donated historical monument on the Indiana Statehouse grounds. The monument features the Ten Commandments and it was relocated following the ruling.
The motion, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana in Indianapolis, seeks relief under a federal rule that allows courts to lift old orders when the law has significantly changed.
The monument displays the Ten Commandments on one large side, the Bill of Rights on the opposite side and the Preamble to the Indiana Constitution on the smaller sides, a gift from the Indiana Limestone Institute. A similar monument stood on the Statehouse lawn for over 30 years until it was vandalized in 1991.
“The Statehouse grounds feature many monuments and markers celebrating Indiana’s and America’s heritage,” Rokita said in the news release. “This monument belongs among them as a reminder of core principles that have guided our nation. After all these years, it’s time to place this historical recognition where Hoosiers and visitors can appreciate its significance in our common story.”
The original injunction was based on a Supreme Court test from 1971 that has since been abrogated. Recent high-court decisions, including at the Texas Capitol, now evaluate such monuments based on America’s long-standing history and traditions rather than the old standard.
“This monument reflects foundational texts that have shaped our Nation’s laws, liberties and civic life for generations,” Braun said in a news release. “Given the clear shift in constitutional law and the long history of similar displays across the country, we ask the court to lift this outdated injunction. Restoring this historical monument is about honoring our heritage and who we are as Hoosiers.”
The monument remains in Bedford and would be placed near its original intended location at the Statehouse if the court grants the motion.
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