Historical Display of the “Creation of Law in Our Schools” Act, SENATE BILL 544

Ten Commandments

Introduction | Summary | Why | Conclusion | Resources | Claim vs. Fact | Contact

Introduction

The problem: A nation that does not know its history is doomed to lose its identity. For the past few years, many Pennsylvanians have contacted me with deep concerns that our history is not being emphasized in public schools , civic knowledge is in decline, and the fundamental core American values are being forgotten.  Sadly, in many instances our history is being erased and rewritten.  What built us as a greatest and most powerful nation on the face of earth, the very core foundational values are under attack. 

The evidence: According to the latest data available by National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), 87% students scored below the proficient levels in history.  40% scored below the basic level, indicating limited understanding of fundamental historical concepts. 31% scored below the basic level, suggesting a lack of foundational civic knowledge. In many school districts, there has been a reduction in the emphasis on comprehensive history and civics education due to shifting priorities or resource constraints. Various other studies raise the similar red flags that our children in public schools must be educated in history and civic education.

The solution: This is why I felt that it is very crucial to re-emphasize our historical documents such as Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, Pennsylvania Constitution, and the Ten Commandments in public schools to focus on the values that are very important for our nation and Pennsylvania since we are the birthplace of our nation. These historical documents serve as a foundational, ethical, legal, and moral compass for our children and our nation. It is the time that we secure our history and preserve our core values back in public schools that our founding fathers believed in and instilled in our founding documents.

This legislation would introduce, emphasize, and educate our children about their rights, freedoms, and obligation to empower them to understand their God given rights ensured by our constitution. In addition, our children could understand the foundation of our civilization and the values that our founding fathers believed in. No doubt, these historic texts have profoundly shaped our historical, legal, cultural, traditional, and social systems, laying the groundwork for the greatest democracy the world has ever known.

Summary

Senate Bill 544 would require schools to:

✔ Require the displaying of Ten Commandments, of the Declaration of Independence, the Pennsylvania Constitution, and the U.S. Constitution in our public schools for historical and educational purposes to emphasize founding of our Commonwealth and country.

✔ Protect our heritage, reflect the vision of William Penn for the citizens of Pennsylvania, and preserve the aspirations of our founding fathers. 

✔ Offer students a shared ethical framework to guide their behavior and foster a positive school culture and environment.

✔ Provide our students with a robust historical and ethical foundation to underscore that the creation of these documents serves to guide our Commonwealth and country.

✔ Protect the fundamental principles of law, freedom, and individual rights. 

✔ Assist students to Understand their unalienable rights that our Creator endowed us such as Life, Liberty, and Pursuit for Happiness.

WHY the TEN COMMANDMENTS SHOULd BE THE PART OF OUR HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS?

While all the historical documents are equally emphasized, many critics have decided to attack the Ten Commandments. The critics insists that the Ten Commandments should be excluded in historical documents. However, I strongly believe it is very important to include and display Ten Commandments as a part of our history in public schools for the following important compelling reasons.

1. Historical and Cultural Significance

The Ten Commandments have been integral to Western legal and moral traditions. Figures like John Adams and George Washington highlighted the importance of religious and moral principles in fostering a prosperous society. Displaying the Ten Commandments can serve as a reminder of these foundational values. (Standing for Freedom Center)

2. Moral and Ethical Framework

The Ten Commandments promote universal ethical principles such as prohibitions against murder, theft, and dishonesty. These values align with the moral teachings found in various religious and secular philosophies, offering a shared foundation for character education. (Standing for Freedom Center)

3. Educational Value

Including the Ten Commandments in educational settings can provide students with insights into the historical context of legal systems and the evolution of moral codes. This approach can foster critical thinking and discussions about the intersection of law, religion, and society. (Standing for Freedom Center)

4. Encouraging Civic Virtue

Advocates believe that displaying the Ten Commandments can inspire students to uphold virtues like honesty, integrity, and respect for others, contributing to the development of responsible and ethical citizens. (Standing for Freedom Center)

5. Support from Public Figures

Prominent leaders have expressed support for displaying the Ten Commandments in public spaces. For instance,  President Donald Trump endorsed such displays, emphasizing their value in promoting respect for the rule of law. (New York Post)

6. Precedents in Other States

Some states have enacted laws permitting the display of the Ten Commandments in public schools. Proponents argue that these precedents demonstrate a legal pathway for such displays, though they acknowledge ongoing legal debates. (Standing for Freedom Center)

7. Preserving our identity and values

Displaying the Ten Commandments is a way to preserve millions of Pennsylvanians’ unique religious identity and Judeo-Christian values. Like all other nations, American nation has a right to preserve its religion, culture, and values to preserve its identity. As Pennsylvanians, we are proud citizens as seed of our great nation was soiled here. Pennsylvania is the birthplace of our nation. This identity made us the strongest and greatest nation, and we must follow the path of wisdom that was instilled in our history and heritage by our founding fathers.

Ten Commandments are not just limited to religious nature and scope but a basic foundation of every human society and civilization. All nations, countries, and civilizations have practiced Ten Commandments in one or another form according to their own culture and traditions.

Conclusion

Ten Commandments are universal in nature and a beacon of light for all humanity. This is why our founding fathers believed in them, practiced them, and used them as a guidance, core foundation, and inspiration to create significant historical documents such as ‘Declaration of Independence’ and ‘U.S. Constitution’. They have been proven successful for Pennsylvania and America for decades. 

Resources

The evidence how our faith, history, and values are connected?

USA Heritage

Claim Vs. Fact

Claim: Critics of the bill claim that Displaying of Ten Commandments is unconstitutional since it contradicts with the First Amendment of the United States Constitution concerning the Establishment Clause to establish a national religion.

Facts:  Displaying the Ten Commandments does not contradict with the Constitution but supports the foundation of our constitution and preserves the freedoms and rights of American people by securing our history, culture, traditions, and legal foundation in many ways:

 1. The Ten Commandments as a Historical and Moral Foundation

The Ten Commandments can be seen not just as religious edicts, but as part of the moral and legal heritage that helped shape Western civilization, including American legal principles. Concepts like prohibitions on murder, theft, and perjury align with universally accepted laws, not just religious doctrine. The Ten Commandments do not only have a religious element, but also have historical and moral foundation in addition to securing our traditions and cultural history.

  • In Van Orden v. Perry (2005), the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that a monument displaying the Ten Commandments on Texas State Capitol grounds did not violate the Establishment Clause because it had a dual historical and moral purpose.
  • Many U.S. courthouses feature imagery of Ten Commandments and Moses among other historical lawgivers like Hammurabi and Solon, suggesting the commandments are part of a broader legal, historical, and cultural tradition.

 2. The Ten Commandments for Secular Purpose and Presentation

Displaying of Ten Commandments on public schools’ walls serves a secular and educational purpose as well, so the Ten Commandments do not necessarily advance a religion, and thus do not violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

  • The Lemon Test from Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971) allows religious symbols if they:
    1. Have a secular legislative purpose,
    2. Do not advance or inhibit religion,
    3. Do not foster excessive government entanglement with religion.
  • Since in the public schools, the Ten Commandments would be included among many historical documents or teachings on law, they absolutely pass the Lemon Test.

 3. The Ten Commandments as Precedent of Tolerance for Religious Expression

Religious references are already integrated into American civic life—such as “In God We Trust” on currency and “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance—demonstrating that the Constitution allows room for religious expression.

  • Courts have consistently ruled that these do not constitute an establishment of religion but reflect historical traditions.
  • These practices, like the Ten Commandments in a courthouse, do not compel belief but reflect longstanding cultural norms and traditions.

 4. The Ten Commandments promotes Freedom of Religion by Acknowledging Religion not Abolishing Religion

Freedom of religion includes the right for society to acknowledge religion’s role in public life without coercion or compulsion.

  • Our Constitution’s First Amendment’s Free Exercise Claus guarantees free exercise of religion and does not equate acknowledgment of religion with its imposition.
  • Public displays or references—when not accompanied by compulsion to worship, pray, or participate—are absolutely constitutional.

Claim: Displaying of Ten Commandments establish a national religion and gives one religion the preference over another.

Facts:  The Ten Commandments are not associated with only one religion and one denomination particularly.

  • The Ten Commandments are equally significant to all denominations regardless of their affiliations. Multiple faiths, including Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and many other religions embrace Ten Commandments in one form or other, so they are not exclusive to one religious denomination or faith but represent all religions.  Above all, Ten Commandments are universal human values that are foundation to all human civilizations and not an establishment of one single religion.
  • In addition, the constitution does not demand the complete removal of religious references from public life but protects the freedom of religion and encourages it.
  • The Founders themselves often invoked divine references in public life and documents (e.g., the Declaration of Independence refers to “Nature’s God” and “Creator”).
  • So, the displaying of the Ten Commandments is not an establishment of a specific religion but freedom of all religions.

Claim: Another objection to displaying of Ten Commandments is that which “official” version of the Ten Commandments should be displayed? Different religions have their own versions of the Ten Commandments.

Fact: Reality is that regardless of various versions, the basic message of Ten Commandants is same. Multiple denominations and faiths, including Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and many other religions embrace Ten Commandments in one form or other. The main theme and message of the Ten Commandments still stay the same regardless of minor translation differences and the contexts, so it really does not matter which version is displayed sine the basic theme is unchanged. This is why the Ten commandments have been the part of our history and inscribed on courts and monuments.

Claim: This bill is the establishment of religion.

Fact: Senate Bill 554 does NOT establish religion but protects freedom of of religion and preserves freedom of expression. The bill does not discriminate against any group or person; the bill strictly protect our faith, history, and heritage. Regardless of the propaganda of critics, our founding fathers actually practiced and lived their lives with faith and values, and they established them in our foundational documents. It is important that we must display and teach those document in public schools. 

Contact/Connect

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this legislation, please feel free to contact my Legislative Director, Aaron Bashir, or my Chief of Staff, Donald Beishl.

Connect with Sen. Mastriano: www.senatormastriano.com

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