Missouri bill seeks mandatory Ten Commandments in classrooms, sparking debate

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — A state senate bill proposes to require Missouri classrooms to display the Ten Commandments in schools statewide.

Advocates say there is a tradition in Missouri to support this bill.

“I think if you go in our older courthouses, older state buildings, older federal buildings, there's scripture on every floor, on every wall, and talks about God and our model for the state, for the United States is in God we trust. So why not put our faith in God and display that for people to read," said State Senator Jamie Burger.

The Benton, Mo. Republican believes there is a link between an uptick in violence and the Christian faith no longer being present in schools.

“I have no data to support this, but I feel like when prayer was taken out of school that the guns came into school, violence came into school. Prayer doesn't hurt anything. I think it's beneficial and we need to return to that," said Burger.

Senator Burger’s bill would require a poster no smaller than 11 x 14 inches to be displayed with the words “I am the Lord thy God” being displayed above the commandment text.

Similar legislation passed last summer in Louisiana.

In November, a federal judge declared it unconstitutional, and some Missouri lawmakers agreed.

“I am not comfortable for our nearly one million students who have a right to receive a free and quality public education in the state of Missouri to be forced into a classroom where the first thing that they see in that classroom is 'I am the Lord thy God,' followed by the 10 Commandments," says Senator Maggie Nurrenbern.

The Kansas City Democrat taught in classrooms for 13 years and says her experience showed her that all students need to feel they belong in the room.

“I think our job in public education is to make sure every student, no matter your faith, feels accepted," added Nurrenbern.

Predictably, the community is divided in their opinions on the matter. Some see no harm, while others find fault.

“I am a retired teacher and I'm a Christian and because our country is based on the rule of law, and I believe our foundation of laws is the 10 Commandments. I believe it is a good idea to have the 10 Commandments in our schools," said a Jefferson City Resident.

“I would say you can disagree with multiple religions in a school, but you should respect that there are multiple people in there with different bases and backgrounds and we should lean away from just one strict religion," said Jefferson City resident, Favour Oluwadare.

The bill still sits in the education committee and the Republican majority is confident it will move on to the full Senate for a floor debate.

“If you don't want to read them, don't read them," said Burger. "But for people that do want to see it, I don't think it hurts a thing."

“It's a clearly unconstitutional bill. I'm going to work to ensure that it doesn't pass," explained Nurrenbern.