We'll probably be putting the Ten Commandments in every Texas public school classroom next year

SB10 and SB11 both cleared the Senate Education committee today for a full Senate vote to come. I wanted to focus on some of the particulars of these two bills so you can better understand what they would do.

SB10 would require every public school classroom to have a 16-inch by 20-inch poster featuring a sort of shortened version of the Ten Commandments that is readable across a room and in a visible spot. A school district can pay for these or they can be donated, but the text must read exactly as in the bill with no other information (though, I wonder, if they’re donated by a certain organization, will that organization’s name or logo be allowed on the poster? Because the Satanic Temple has the opportunity to do the funniest thing ever.)

Many of the speakers during today’s hearing seem to earnestly believe that students are so poorly behaved, bully and shoot at each other, and suck at tests because their parents haven’t introduced them to the bible. The bill’s author, Sen. Phil King (R-Northern Nowhere) said “I think our kids are crying out for moral clarity.”

I think they’re crying out for protection, Phil. I think they’re crying because of shooter drills and problems in their families and natural disasters affecting their neighborhoods and just being a kid in a world that is in chaos. I’m not sure a poster is going to help with that, but a lot of other legislation could.

Sen. Jose Menendez gave the obvious response: “you really want to explain adultery to a fifth grader?” To which the most unhinged person during public testimony replied:

The novel she’s referring to is an adult fiction book with the synopsis: “Three female friends face midlife crises in a no-holds-barred exploration of sex, marriage, and the fragility of life,” which I cannot imagine wanting to read when I was in fifth grade and don’t know why it would be available in a public school library other than some kind of clerical error because the author also writes YA books.

Menendez also asked if teachers would be required to teach the Ten Commandments, to which King replied that good teachers would include the commandments in their lessons. So, while not required, would give some teachers a path to proselytizing in the classroom. Though, who has the TIME when all you’re allowed to do is teach to a standardized test?

Finally, I wanted to include Sen. Donna Campbell mathing:

Ok, lady!

Next up, SB11: “The board of trustees of a school district may adopt a policy requiring every campus of the district or school to provide students and employees with an opportunity to participate in a period of prayer and reading of the Bible or other religious text on each school day in accordance with this section.” From the Houston Chronicle:

Both measures advanced easily through the Senate Education Committee on Tuesday, with all nine Republicans in support. State Sen. Royce West, a Dallas Democrat, voted present on the Ten Commandments bill and in favor of the prayer bill. Menéndez voted no on both.

The same proposals were approved by the full Senate two years ago before hitting a wall in the Texas House. It’s unclear if either bill will receive greater reception in the lower chamber the second time around, but if they do and are signed into law by the governor they would go into effect starting in the 2025-2026 school year.

Middleton has called church-state separations ‘false doctrine’ and said his bill is legally supported by recent court decisions. He blamed “litigious atheists” for leading the lawsuits that led to previous decisions removing prayer from public schools in the 1970s and said society had “downhill” since then as a result.

Oh, to be a litigious atheist.

Some dissenters pointed out that it would create Christian cliques of sorts, but heck, I grew up in Deer Park where there was definitely a Youth for Christ club and Athletes for Christ and, I dunno, Smokers for Satan. This stuff exists. And yeah, it was a clique. It was often performative for their parents. I can assure you that these fine young white Christian boys and girls had no problem bullying others, despite maybe knowing their commandments.

All I can do is give this one a big ol’ shrug. The ultimate goal for both bills — which was stated by Senators and panelists — is to get sued and get in front of the Supreme Court.

I thought I’d undergo a cute little exercise where I find Texas Senators or Representatives that have disobeyed the Ten Commandments. If I allowed myself to include Ken Paxton, I’d bowl a strike, but I’m not going to go easy on myself. Just started with the first three, will continue this series in future posts.

I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me.

If it’s not Donald Trump, it’s gun. Texas Republicans definitely have other gods before you, babe.

You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me, but showing steadfast love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments.

They have twisted the vision of this man into so many forms that I don’t even know where to begin.

You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name.

Were I a staffer at the capitol, I’m positive I could record many “goddammits” from all of these nitwits. Alas, no one will pay me to just haunt the capitol. Can someone do that? I REALLY NEED TO GET PAID.

All of this means a lot to me because I was raised in the Southern Baptist church and beliefs. I don’t know how to explain to you how ill-fitted that suit was for me. I tried to wear it, I swear. But the whole time I was uncomfortable and confused, and it led to years of mental anguish. Am I allowed to feel that all of this isn’t true? Am I a bad person because I feel and think this way? Am I a sinner because this Janet Jackson song makes me feel happy in ways I haven’t felt before? Why does my science textbook teach me about dinosaurs from millions of years ago when the earth is only 6,000 years old? Why does prayer do nothing for me?

Am I going to be rejected?

I want to be outraged by all of this, but I don’t think it amounts to much. Do you know how many times I’ve put some kind of affirmation or prompt to do something in a visible place and how quickly I forget it? I can see that post-it note five times a day and after a day or two, it’s just wallpaper. And creative teachers will find a way to broaden the conversation. I just feel sorry for the students who will be subject to their teachers using the commandments as teachable moments, using them to shame a child, using them as a tentpole for terrible social studies lessons.

Three Good Things

1. My husband made dinner while I wrote this. Thank you, husband.
2. Waking up to rain this morning while foster dog Art gently snored at my feet was really nice.
3. I get to see one of my favorite comedians, Rory Scovel, this weekend.