Ohio lawmakers have introduced a new bill that could change what is displayed in public school classrooms. The bill, called SB 34, is designed to allow public schools in Ohio to display the Ten Commandments, along with other historical documents, in classrooms and on school grounds.
Senator Terry Johnson, a Republican from McDermott, is sponsoring this bill. The law is officially named the “Historical Educational Displays Act.” If passed, the bill will require all public schools in Ohio to display at least one of the following historical documents in every classroom starting July 1, 2026:
- The Ten Commandments
- The Mayflower Compact
- The Declaration of Independence
- The Northwest Ordinance
- The United States and Ohio mottos
- The Magna Carta
- The Bill of Rights
- The United States Constitution
- The Articles of Confederation
The bill specifies that these displays should be “reasonably visible,” meaning that students should be able to see them clearly. Each display should also include a brief explanation of why the document is important in history.
In addition to classroom displays, schools could also build monuments or other markers with these documents listed on them. This means that Ten Commandments monuments could be built on public school grounds as well.
One important point in the bill is that schools do not have to pay for these displays themselves. Instead, they can accept donations to cover the costs of putting up these displays or monuments. The bill does not put any restrictions on who can donate, which means that churches or other groups could be the ones funding these displays. However, school boards can refuse donations if the donors place any conditions on them.
Legal Precedents and Concerns
This bill comes with some controversy. In 1980, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a case called Stone v. Graham that a Kentucky law requiring Ten Commandments displays in classrooms was unconstitutional. The Court argued that the Ten Commandments have a religious purpose, and their display in public schools violates the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which keeps government from promoting one religion over others.
Despite this, the Ohio bill tries to avoid this legal issue by adding the Ten Commandments to a list of other historical documents. Schools would have the option to display the Ten Commandments or one of the other documents listed above. This may help the bill avoid being challenged on the same grounds as the Kentucky case.
Opponents of the bill are speaking out against it. Christina Collins, executive director of Honesty for Ohio Education, says the bill takes away local control and adds unnecessary government involvement in schools. She argues that instead of requiring these displays, lawmakers should focus on policies that improve education without adding political agendas.
Rev. Dr. Ben Huelskamp, executive director of LOVEboldly, argues that including the Ten Commandments in schools is an attempt to bring Christian nationalism into public education. He believes that education should be inclusive and diverse, focusing on making schools better for all students, regardless of their background.
What’s Next?
The first hearing for the bill is set to take place on Tuesday in the Senate Education Committee. At this hearing, lawmakers will discuss the bill and hear opinions from the public. It’s not clear yet whether the bill will pass, but it has already stirred up significant debate about the role of religion in public education.
This bill is one of many similar efforts seen in other states. For example, in Louisiana, lawmakers passed a law requiring Ten Commandments displays in classrooms. However, that law is currently being challenged in court for its constitutionality.
As the debate over this bill continues, it raises important questions about the balance between education, religion, and government involvement in schools. People on both sides of the issue will likely continue to speak out as the bill moves through the legislative process.
(Source : thebuckeyeflame.com)