Should the Ten Commandments be displayed in school? California education board to discuss it
Good morning and welcome to the A.M. Alert!
TEN COMMANDMENTS IN THE CLASSROOM?
The Kern County Board of Education is set on Dec. 17 to hear a pair of presentations — one on the historical basis for displaying the Ten Commandments in schools and one on the legal grounds for being able to do so.
Robert Meszaros, spokesman for the Kern County Superintendent of Schools, confirmed to The Bee that the items will be discussed at the board’s next meeting, at the request of two unspecified individuals.
“This is an informational item only and no action will be taken at the meeting next week,” Meszaros wrote in an email statement.
The decision to hold the hearing prompted an outcry from advocates for the separation of church and state.
“There is no historical basis for displaying the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms, and doing so violates both the U.S. and California Constitutions,” the Freedom From Religion Foundation argued in a statement sent to The Bee. “The Ten Commandments are neither a historical document foundational to American law nor a universal moral code shared by all citizens.”
The FFRF is a national nonprofit that, as the name implies, argues on behalf of the separation between church and state.
The group successfully challenged the Chino Valley Unified School District in court after the latter implemented a policy of praying during school board meetings.
The FFRF warned that in addition to presenting a serious legal issue, a decision to display the Ten Commandments on school grounds would undermine “the inclusive and pluralistic values that public education should represent;” the foundation notes that there are plenty of people from religious traditions outside of those that recognize the Ten Commandments, as well as those who are atheists, agnostics or unaffiliated.
In a statement, FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor said that schools aren’t supposed to indoctrinate people in religion.
“The First Commandment alone shows why it does not belong in public schools or government property. The school board has no business telling a captive audience of schoolchildren which gods to worship, how many gods to worship or whether to worship any gods at all,” Gaylor said.
The First Commandment prohibits people from having any god other than the God of the Abrahamic religions.
Earlier this year, the Republican-dominated Louisiana Legislature passed a law, signed by Gov. Jeff Landry, to require the Ten Commandments be displayed in all K-12 public schools in the state.
That law is on hold, pending a legal challenge.
Meszaros stressed that whatever the board decides, it has “very limited jurisdiction.”
“Any action taken by the board, for this or any issue, has no impact on Kern County’s 46 school districts as each of those is governed by its own elected board of trustees,” he wrote.
SCHIFF HOLDS FIRST PRESS CONFERENCE AS SENATOR
Via David Lightman...
Sen. Adam Schiff introduced himself to the Capitol press corps Tuesday at a brief news conference where he stressed a desire to help Californians needing affordable housing.
Schiff, a Democrat, was sworn into office Monday, replacing Sen. Laphonza Butler, D-Calif. She was appointed last year to fill the seat of the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.
Schiff, a Los Angeles area congressman for 24 years, appeared with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and another Senate newcomer, Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J.
Schumer talked about how he wanted to follow Feinstein’s legacy, “how she took the time to try to get to know the people throughout the state of California “ and was willing to work with members of both parties to get things done.
“In the state of California we have an immense challenge (in)housing,” Schiff said. “We certainly don’t have enough of it.
“It certainly is driving prices up and rents up and putting homeownership beyond the capacity of a lot of good families but it is also resulting in an epidemic of homelessness,” Schiff said. “Addressing those two challenges will be a very high priority for me.”
He also noted that compounding the problem is “scarcity of available,affordable child care and the cost of living generally.”
Schiff will be in the Senate majority for a few weeks, as Democrats now control the chamber. But when the new Congress convenes Jan. 3, Republicans will control 53 of the 100 seats, putting Schiff and Democrats in the minority.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Halting the Kroger and Albertsons megamerger is a win for California households and communities. As many families continue to feel the burden of inflation, fighting corporate consolidation that threatens to increase grocery prices is more important than ever.”
- California Attorney General Rob Bonta, in a statement following the decision by a federal judge to block the proposed grocery chain merger.
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