1. United States
2. Mo.
3. Letter

I am writing to express my strong opposition to HB 34, which would require public schools to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom. This bill violates the fundamental principle of separation of church and state guaranteed by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Public schools serve students of all faiths and none, and their classrooms must remain neutral spaces where every family feels welcome. Mandating the display of a specific religious text—one tied to a particular faith tradition—sends a message of exclusion to non-Christian students, including Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, secular, and other minority communities. If the government can require the Ten Commandments, what prevents it from imposing verses from the Quran, the Bhagavad Gita, or other sacred texts? Such government endorsement of religion undermines the religious freedom our nation was founded upon. The Supreme Court has already ruled in Stone v. Graham (1980) that displaying the Ten Commandments in public schools is unconstitutional unless there is a clear secular purpose. HB 34’s supporters may claim the Commandments are "historical" or "moral," but their inherently religious nature makes this mandate legally indefensible. Taxpayer dollars should not be wasted defending a bill that will likely be struck down in court. I urge you to oppose HB 34 and instead focus on policies that unite all Missourians—such as improving school funding, teacher pay, or infrastructure—rather than divisive measures that privilege one religion over others. Public schools must remain inclusive spaces that respect the diversity of our state. Thank you for your attention to this matter. I trust you will uphold the Constitution and the rights of all constituents by rejecting this unconstitutional bill.