Image Credit: Rutherford County Schools & Canva.
Article by Paula Gomes, Tennessee Conservative News –
Rutherford County Schools (RCS) will use private funds for displays of the Ten Commandments within the district.
RCS is one of five Tennessee school districts opposed by leftist groups who have requested all public records relating to recent plans for the displays.
A new state law gives local boards of education the option to display the Ten Commandments and other foundational documents in a “prominent” location on school grounds. The law was specifically crafted this way to make it easier to withstand a constitutional challenge.
In a joint statement, Americans United, the ACLU, Freedom From Religion Foundation, and the ACLU of Tennessee stated that the displays equal “forcing biblical scripture on public-school children” and say that it violates the religious freedom of families.
The decision to allow the displays in Rutherford County was made back in April, but now the board of education is getting down to brass tacks in terms of where they will be displayed, what they will look like, and ultimately, where the money is coming from to make it happen.
Community members have raised over $12,000 for acrylic plaques to be displayed in the district, providing a more permanent solution than simply printing the documents on paper.
At this month’s board meeting, members voted unanimously to approve displays of the Ten Commandments, an excerpt from the Declaration of Independence, and the preamble of the Constitution in every school in the district, 53 in all.
The board approved design guidelines for the documents back in August but has yet to determine exactly where the displays will be located within individual schools.
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About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
