South Carolina House advances bill requiring Ten Commandments in classrooms

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - A bill that would require the Ten Commandments to be displayed in every public school and university classroom in South Carolina passed on second reading at the state House on Wednesday after hours of heated debate that largely fell along party lines.

The proposal mandates that schools post, at a minimum, an 11-by-14-inch poster of the Ten Commandments. The measure prompted one of the most spirited discussions of the legislative session, with Republicans arguing the commandments represent foundational American principles and Democrats warning the bill crosses constitutional lines by introducing religion into public education.

“You don’t get a free pass to come up here and say ‘ha ha ha, it’s so funny we’re talking about the Ten Commandments,’” said Rep. James Teeple, R-Charleston. “No, it is serious. We’re talking about the future of this nation.”

Democrats countered that religious instruction should be left to churches, not public school educators.

“That’s why we have churches,” said Rep. Wendell Gilliard, D-Charleston. “Let the pastors do their jobs and let the teachers do theirs. It’s just as plain and simple as that.”

Supporters, including bill sponsor Rep. Steven Long, R-Spartanburg, argued the commandments reflect historical values that shaped the country’s legal and cultural framework.

“I think it’s really important that students across this state and the next generation understand how important faith was to the founding of our nation, the creation of our legal system,” Long said. “This helps educate students.”

Democrats employed several procedural tactics to delay the vote, including lengthy periods of silence on the House floor, with Rep. Justin Bamberg, D-Bamberg, holding a piece of paper up with a Bible verse that reads, “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Others, like Rep. Jermaine Johnson, D-Richland, argued the measure distracts from more pressing issues.

“If we had a little bit more God in this chamber, then we would be focusing on things that affect the people of South Carolina,” Johnson said.

Senate leaders said they have not yet discussed the bill this session. In previous years, similar proposals have struggled to gain traction in the chamber.

Similar bills passed into law in Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas have all been challenged in courts. Supporters of the bill say they expect a challenge in South Carolina if it is passed.

The bill also allows for chaplains to provide religious counseling to students at schools with parental consent.

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