A bill that would mandate the display of the Ten Commandments in public schools from kindergarten through university is going back for more rewrites at the suggestion of a House committee Thursday.
HB178 by Rep. Mark Gidley, R-Hokes Bluff, originally called for the display of the religious laws in a prominent area of each school system, but revealed changes to the bill Wednesday that would instead require it in classrooms teaching history.
Rep. Marcus Paramore, R-Troy, questioned how the bill would be applied to universities like Troy University in his home district, which includes a whole building dedicated to history with numerous classrooms on each floor.
“It’s a little overkill in one area and not the other,” Paramore said.
Gidley said he would find it appropriate to have the Ten Commandments displayed prominently in a single area in a building dedicated to history, but that is not reflected in the language of the bill. Paramore asked that the bill be amended to clarify that, which factored into pushing the bill for a rewrite.
House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels, D-Huntsville, also asked how the state would hold schools accountable since the displays are mandated but require private funding. Gidley said schools would not be disciplined for failing to establish displays if they have not yet collected the money.
Rep. Terri Collins, chair of the House Education Policy Committee, said the bill also refers to certain context for the displays but fails to actually provide the context in the bill.
Gidley attempted to get the bill out of committee, telling members he would be happy to bring amendments on the floor, but Collins ultimately asked Rep. Susan DuBose, R-Hoover, to withdraw her motion for favorable report so that the amendments could be added before the bill leaves committee.
