(C) Common Dreams
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Arkansas bill proposes display of Ten Commandments, national motto in public classrooms [1]
['Rowdy Baribeau', 'Ashley Luningham', 'Https']
Date: 2025-04
On Tuesday, a bill was filed in the Arkansas legislature that would enforce displaying the Ten Commandments and the national motto in public classrooms across all education levels.
Senate Bill 433 (SB433) would also allow the motto and commandments to be displayed in public buildings or facilities that are maintained and operated by taxpayer funds.
“In a classroom or public library where someone donates it to be displayed in a conspicuous place so if someone donates that framed copy, it just describes how it should be displayed," said Senator Jim Dotson.
The national motto, "In God We Trust", will also be required to be displayed in public school districts and local government offices. The motto must be displayed as a durable poster or framed copy of at least 11 inches by 14 inches and displayed in a large font size.
The Ten Commandments will need to be displayed in a size that is legible to a person with average vision from anywhere in the room in which the poster is displayed. The Ten Commandments must be posted with a sixteen-inch by twenty-inch frame.
The copies or posters will have to be purchased using funds available through voluntary contributions to the local school district boards of directors.
If a copy or poster required does not meet the requirements, then the institution will have to replace the copy with one that meets the requirements.
State Senator Jim Dotson (R-34) and State Representative Alyssa Brown are the primary sponsors of the bill.
The bill has left Arkansans divided, questioning if this violates the separation of church and state.
Senator Dotson said it does not.
“From the state to the federal level all throughout our history, it is a historical reference point or historical document that has basic things like you shall not kill, steal, commit adultery, those basic foundations of life that is good for everybody to keep front of mind so that we are hopefully living good lives," said Dotson. "The U.S. Supreme court has held repeatedly throughout history that not everything is an establishment of religion. Going back to a more strict scrutiny standard of the interpretation of the constitution with our current supreme court so I don’t think this is a violation."
Dr. Robert Steinbuch, a Arkansas board certified professor of law at UA Little Rock said while this may be true, there could be an issue displaying the Ten Commandments by itself.
"The courts have been evolving on this," said Steinbuch. "The last Supreme Court hearing that we have on this is somewhat old. It said things like you can have things like the Ten Commandments as part of a historical examination of religions. Part of what is going on in the country is that conservative states like ours are seeking to put items like the Ten Commandments in schools with the hopes of, or at least the expectation, it resulting in a legal challenge because there is some belief, I think accurately in fact, that the Supreme Court would be more permissive in allowing those religious artifacts. It is unclear in the bill whether the school would present the Ten Commandments solely only or if they would contextualize them amongst other religious artifacts. The latter clearly is allowed but standing entirely alone is almost certainly not allowed.”
The full bill can be read below.
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[1] Url:
https://katv.com/news/local/ark-legislators-file-bill-that-would-enforce-posting-the-ten-commandments-in-classrooms-arkansas-sb-433-jim-dotson-alyssa-brown-representatives-senate-legislature-national-motto
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