FREE ESSAY ON 10 COMMANDMENTS IN SCHOOLS

10 COMMANDMENTS IN SCHOOLS

P.S. 233-03 Ed Mashek
Dr. Hicks
02/08/01
Assignment #1
The 1st Amendment in Schools
Right now in Kentucky, there is a somewhat heated debate going on about whether or not
the 10 Commandments should be posted in public schools. The people, schools, and our
state and federal governments all seem to have their own opinion, but which one is the
right one? That is, which one follows the guidelines set in the Bill of Rights? Legally
speaking, schools in Kentucky were required to display the Ten Commandments, until the
Supreme Court declared that law unconstitutional. Some Kentucky residents support this
action, while others are outraged by it. In the Courier-Journal's Readers' Forum: Posting
the Ten Commandments in our Schools which ran on November 22, 1999, there are a few
examples of each.
Robert D. Grubbs believes that the Ten Commandments are "symbols, not substance," and
that substance is what is needed in our schools. He feels that the only way to change
behavior in our young people is to get involved in their lives, not just hang something
up and expect them to follow it. Patty Hadley couldn't disagree with him more. It is her
belief that, without the Ten Commandments being posted in our schools, America will
become a Godless country, and that money should also, then, be outlawed since it carries
the phrase "In God we trust." Edward L. Smith Jr. supports the side of Ms. Hadley,
stating that ACLU has no right to tell anyone how or where they can practice their
religion, and that schools should fight back and sue the ACLU. Jo Ann Sturgeon is also on
their side. She feels that posting the Ten Commandments in our schools may in itself stop
such tragedies as the Columbine incident. She concludes by saying that this paper, which
doesn't advocate the hanging of the Ten Commandments, should keep its opinions to itself
and let the legal system handle the situation. Someone should inform Ms. Sturgeon that
the legal system has handled this situation, appropriately, by making it illegal for
schools to hang the Ten Commandments.