North Carolina
FFRF is pleased to state that the Iredell-Statesville Schools Board of Education in North Carolina will not be considering displaying the Ten Commandments in all school buildings.
A district parent reported that the district was considering a proposal to require all schools to display the Ten Commandments as part of a display of “Founding Documents.” FFRF learned that the posters would be placed in each school’s entrance foyer or library, and that a board member believed the religious display was “within the letter of the law” due to a recently passed North Carolina state law allowing Ten Commandments to be displayed in public schools under certain circumstances.
“Any student will view a Ten Commandments display in school as favoring one particular set of religious beliefs,” FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote to the district.
Thankfully, shortly after FFRF’s letter was sent out, FFRF learned that the board derailed the effort. A board member stated, “This is a legal question here to me. It’s not a question of religion,” and that displaying a poster with the Ten Commandments on it would violate federal law based on previous court cases.
