Across the country, conversations about the Ten Commandments in public schools continue to surface. While opinions may differ on the posting of the Ten Commandments, there is an often-overlooked opportunity to teach about them.

Many state academic standards already invite students to explore ancient civilizations, moral codes, and the development of laws and values. Within that framework, the Ten Commandments naturally fit as a historical and cultural text that influenced societies across time. For example:

·     In California students are expect to “identify the sources of the ethical teachings and central beliefs of Judaism (the Hebrew Bible, the Commentaries): belief in God, observance of law, practice of the concepts of righteousness and justice, and importance of study; and describe how the ideas of the Hebrew traditions are reflected in the moral and ethical traditions of Western civilization.”

     In Florida, students are expected to “identify key figures and basic beliefs of the Israelites and determine how these beliefs compare with those of others in the geographic area. Examples are Abraham, Moses, monotheism, law, and emphasis on individual worth and responsibility.”

·     In Texas, a “student is expected to: (A) explain the development of democratic-republican government from its beginnings in Judeo-Christian legal tradition and classical Greece and Rome through the French Revolution; (B) identify the impact of political and legal ideas contained in the following documents: Hammurabi’s Code, the Jewish Ten Commandments…”

·     In Massachusetts, students are expected to “describe the history of ancient Israel and early Christianity: a monotheistic religion (e.g., the belief in one God, the Ten Commandments, the emphasis on individual worth and personal responsibility, the belief that rulers and the ruled must adhere to the same moral obligations).”

Let’s Not Miss this Opportunity

Using existing state standards as a guide, teaching about the Ten Commandments is legal and appropriate.

Get your FREE copy of your State’s Academic Standards Summary! We have reviewed every state’s academic standards. In our Summaries, we include:

·     State academic standards related to the Bible and Christianity

·     The preambles to state constitutions that reference God, because most states have an expectation that students will learn about their constitutions

·     State laws regarding freedom of religious expression

Bible in State Academic Standards — Gateways To Better Education

Gateways is a faithful partner of The Bolick Foundation