A Storm is Coming!
Columnist Jim Shaw weighs in on education-related bills in the North Dakota Legislature
Jim Shaw
Opinion by Jim Shaw
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I believe in the Ten Commandments. However, there’s a time and a place for everything. North Dakota public schools are not that place. The bill in the state Legislature mandating the display of the Commandments in every public classroom should be defeated.
The idea is unfair, unconstitutional and un-American. This is definitely not what the Founding Fathers wanted. The Founding Fathers made it clear that the government should not be in the religion business. That’s why they wrote the First Amendment.
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“The framers of the Constitution recognized the eternal principle that man’s relation with his God is above human legislation, and his rights of conscience inalienable. Reasoning was not necessary to establish this truth; we are conscious of it in our own bosoms. It is this consciousness which, in defiance of human laws, has sustained so many martyrs in tortures and flames. They felt that their duty to God was superior to human enactments, and that man could exercise no authority over their consciences. It is an inborn principle which nothing can eradicate.”—Congressional documents (U.S.A.), serial No. 200, document No. 271.
As the tidings spread through the countries of Europe, of a land where every man might enjoy the fruit of his own labor and obey the convictions of his own conscience, thousands flocked to the shores of the New World. Colonies rapidly multiplied. “Massachusetts, by special law, offered free welcome and aid, at the public cost, to Christians of any nationality who might fly beyond the Atlantic ‘to escape from wars or famine, or the oppression of their persecutors.’ Thus the fugitive and the downtrodden were, by statute, made the guests of the commonwealth.”—Martyn, vol. 5, p. 417. In twenty years from the first landing at Plymouth, as many thousand Pilgrims were settled in New England. GC 295.3 – GC 296.1
North Dakota bill seeks to put the Ten Commandments in every classroom
Proposed bill mandates putting Ten Commandments posters in every classroom; sparking church-state separation concerns.
Jan 8
·
By Isak Dinesen
If this bill passes and is signed into law, it will certainly be challenged in the courts. This would be yet another waste of North Dakota taxpayer dollars.
Forcing religion upon others is just plain wrong.
Forcing religion upon others is just plain wrong. Historically, there has been needless violence and suffering in the name of forced religion.
We don’t have a national religion, and never should
We don’t have a national religion, and never should. Forcing the Ten Commandments upon Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, etc., is insensitive and inappropriate. It’s equally insensitive and inappropriate to those who don’t practice a religion. No child should be made to feel uncomfortable in a public school because of his or her religion, or lack of a religion.
There are places where displaying the Ten Commandments is appropriate and welcomed. They include houses of worship, private homes and private religious schools. Meantime, keep them out of the public schools.
Speaking of private religious schools, they should not be receiving taxpayer dollars. It’s a violation of the separation of church and state. For that matter, no non-religious private school should receive public funding. Unfortunately, many North Dakota legislators are pushing for this.
Whether you call them vouchers, education savings accounts or school choice, the state government has no business funding these schools.
Families already have a choice. They can send their children to public or private schools. If they have to pay for private schools, that’s their choice. Without public funding, many private schools are still thriving.
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I attended a private university. It cost me a lot more than a public university. That was my choice. However, I never expected my state government to help pay my school bills.
There’s only so much state money to spend on education. Subsidizing the private schools would financially harm the public schools. It could mean less money for teachers, technology and textbooks. Taxpayer subsidies to private schools would mean fewer students attending public schools, causing additional revenue losses to the public schools.
It’s important to note that public schools have to accept everyone. Private schools don’t. They can reject students because of their disabilities, academic records, behavior history or for being gay. They also have different curricula.
For private schools to receive public money, they should be open to everyone and should operate in public. That means open school board meetings and open records.
There are several excellent private religious schools in North Dakota, where students receive strong educations. However, that’s not reason enough for them to receive taxpayer dollars.
READ MORE FROM INFORUM COLUMNIST JIM SHAW
- Shaw: Major improvements needed at North Dakota’s national cemeteryFeb 1
- Shaw: A tragic Holocaust mysteryJan 25
- Shaw: Covering the Panama Canal debateJan 18
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Opinion
Opinion by Jim Shaw
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