Bill requiring posting, teaching of Ten Commandments fails in SD House

A bill that would have required South Dakota public schools to display and teach the Ten Commandments failed to clear its final legislative hurdle Monday at the Capitol in Pierre as the state House voted 37-31 to reject it.

State representatives engaged in a lengthy, impassioned debate. Opponents said the bill represented an unconstitutional government endorsement of religion, and warned of legal challenges.

Rep. David Kull, R-Brandon, referenced out-of-state support for the bill, including from Texas-based WallBuilders , which says it works to protect the nation’s “Biblical foundation.”

“Make no mistake, this bill is an experiment, and we’re the lab rats, and the leading scientists from out of state are driving us,” Kull said. “The beauty for them is they aren’t at risk. Their money isn’t at risk — ours is.”

A similar bill adopted by Louisiana is being challenged in court.

The South Dakota bill originally mandated that all public school classrooms feature 8-by-14-inch posters of the Ten Commandments with a three-part, 225-word statement explaining their historical significance. The bill was amended during the Monday debate to require only one display for each school, but the House rejected the bill even with the amendment.

Additionally, schools would have been required to incorporate lessons on the commandments at least once during elementary, middle and high school as part of civics and history classes.

Supporters of the bill said the Ten Commandments played a fundamental role in shaping American law and culture.

Rep. John Hughes, R-Sioux Falls, was among the lawmakers who said the commandments are needed in schools. He said the Judeo-Christian worldview is under attack.

“Our system of public education instructs our children that no god is responsible for how we came to be, for what purpose we were created, and for what becomes of us when we breathe our last breath on this earth,” he said.

Rep. Tim Goodwin, R-Rapid City, said he supported the bill even though the religious leaders and public school superintendents he talked to were against it.

Goodwin said he prayed about the bill and experienced a calmness that influenced his vote.

“The calmness had a voice saying to me, if one person comes to Christ because the Ten Commandments are posted, vote yes,” he said.

Rep. Keri Weems, R-Sioux Falls, said a government mandate is not the right way to spread Christianity.

“This is brought about by relationships,” she said, “not words on a wall.”

This story was originally published on SouthDakotaSearchlight.com.