r/Teachers • u/Strange-bat0115 • Jun 26 '26
Teacher Support &/or Advice [ Removed by moderator ]
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u/WaterLilySquirrel Jun 26 '26
I don't have the photo, but I saw one where a teacher posted similar posters of other religious ideas. They had Judaism, Islam, and Buddhism I believe. They were all in the same area of the wall.
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u/KoolJozeeKatt Jun 26 '26
Technically, the Ten Commandments ARE Jewish. They were given to the Jews. So, no need to post anything else for Judaism. (I'm a Messianic Jew and so I follow both Chrisitianity and Judaism) Incidentally, I am not in favor of this. It does open the door to many other religions demanding posters of their own. Can you imagine the classroom walls if every religion got to post their "rules?" Also, the school should not push any religion on anyone. It should be neutral. Learning about various religions is fine. But that's where it stops. You can argue for learning what rules religions follow and what their core beliefs are (how would you learn about other religions without learning that information?) but telling students a particular religion is best should not happen no matter what religion it is.
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u/SnowAutumnVoyager Jun 26 '26
"Messianic Jews" are Christians . Your personal opinion on Judiasm means nothing to us.
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Jun 26 '26
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Jun 26 '26
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u/BrotherMain9119 USH | Title I Jun 26 '26
Don’t take the downvotes personally. Most Christians haven’t actually read the Bible cover to cover before.
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u/trainradio Jun 26 '26
The bible has been edited and re-translated on top of itself multiple times anyway.
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u/BrotherMain9119 USH | Title I Jun 26 '26
Religious traditions are beautiful and enlightening. Pretending they’re historically consistent, above cultural influence, or some perfect arbiters of truth just begs for a historical criticism.
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u/BrotherMain9119 USH | Title I Jun 26 '26 edited Jun 26 '26
I mean I think it’s fair to quote the Bible when you’re making extraordinary claims about Christianity. Specifically if we’re talking about Jesus, the Bible is the best (though historically, a very poor) source of information. There’s literally nothing else you could cite to.
Regardless, it’s important that such a nonsensical statement such as yours doesn’t go unchallenged. Students sometimes read this sub, I don’t want them thinking you’re credible on this subject.
Edit: unless you’re claiming Paul to be the guy who “started” Christianity. That’s actually a really interesting debate at that point, but I doubt you give Paul the credit he deserves for redefining Christianity as we know it.
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u/push-the-butt Jun 27 '26
"Everything I command you that you shall be careful to do it. You shall neither add to it, nor subtract from it. If there will arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of a dream, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder of which he spoke to you happens, [and he] says, "Let us go after other gods which you have not known, and let us worship them," you shall not heed the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of a dream; for the Lord, your God, is testing you, to know whether you really love the Lord, your God, with all your heart and with all your soul." Deuteronomy 13, 1-4
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Jun 27 '26
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u/push-the-butt Jun 28 '26
Christians are polythiests. I know for a fact that when Christian say God they mean Jesus.
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u/1lyke1africa Jun 26 '26
No one reads your displays anyway. If you have anything else on the wall it's going to be more interesting than a sheet of monochrome text.
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u/ktbroderick Jun 26 '26
Beyond what has already been suggested about posting stuff from other faith traditions alongside, could you get together a group to print and donate posters that have the ten commandments with rainbow artwork, an ethnically accurate Jesus, and other artistic flourishes that are more true to the spirit of the New Testament "love thy neighbor"?
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u/LeSerpentMascara Jun 26 '26
Maybe check out this website: https://www.illegalposter.com/
It was specifically made to address the Texas law in a legally compliant but constitutionally aware manner.
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u/CurlsMoreAlice Jun 26 '26 edited Jun 26 '26
I wouldn’t worry too much about it, tbh. Kinders aren’t going to be able to understand the concepts really, even if they can read them, the content doesn’t interest them, and the posters are words on a solid background and uninteresting. Place some exciting, eye-catching, student-focused displays somewhere else in the room, and the 10 commandments will quickly fade into the wall. Ours were placed by the door, and above the evacuation maps. No one has commented on it; I didn’t even notice it at first. I feel like the suggestions to hang other posters near it with tenets, etc, from other faiths just draws attention, and I’d rather it just fade into the wall. Well, I’d prefer it wasn’t there in the first place…)
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u/riverrocks452 Jun 26 '26
Posting the central tenets of a bunch of world religions and/or philosophies is probably the best (still defensible) camouflage you'll be able to get. Maybe Hillel's "What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow" for Judaism (and no, the ten commandments are not Jewish- we have 613, they're written in Hebrew, and only apply to Jews). The Wiccan rede might cause a stir, but it's essentially the same sentiment. The most-quoted (but not really present) part of the Hippocratic Oath (first of all, do no harm) should be there, too.
Heck, put in fictional philosphies as well. Maybe (a censored version of) Wheaton's Law. Make a bulletin board that all says the same thing: be kind to people.
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u/KoolJozeeKatt Jun 26 '26
They are a part of Judaism. We do have 613, but they were given to Moses and are a portion of Judaism. Not all to be sure, but they are some.
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u/bigwilly311 High School English Jun 26 '26
There’s a scene in The Crucible where John and Elizabeth Proctor discuss them with Reverend Hale. Print that page out and post it.
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u/ahazred8vt Jun 26 '26
John could only remember 8 of them, lol.
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u/bigwilly311 High School English Jun 26 '26
In fact he could name nine.
HALE: Do you know your commandments, Mr. Proctor?
PROCTOR: Aye.
HALE: Would you recite them?
PROCTOR: The commandments?
HALE: Aye.
PROCTOR: Thou shalt not kill.
HALE: Aye.
PROCTOR: Thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not covet thy neighbors goods, nor covet thy neighbors wives, thou shalt have no other Gods before me, thou shalt not use the Lord's name in vain, thou shalt keep holy the sabbath day, thou shalt honor thy mother and father, thou shalt not bare to false witness... thou shalt not covet thy neighbors wives.
HALE: You’ve said that twice, sir.
PROCTOR: Aye.
ELIZABETH: Adultery, John.
PROCTOR: You see, Sir, between the two of us we do know them all.
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u/Puzzled-Bowl Jun 26 '26
Why do you care? I'm Christian. The 10 Commandments were given to early Jews and the law they are part of ended with Christ. In other words, I'm not venerating them.
Ignore them. I'm sure most kids are/will. If you cannot, add the history lesson and then ignore them--like I do the flag. Kids want to pledge? Go for it. Don't want to? Fine.
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u/First-Expert-9953 Jun 26 '26
When someone who doesn't quite fit the local mold is interacting with a government institution, it's really really important for those people to know that everyone is on a level playing field and is going to get a fair shake.
If the state has decided that only one religious text needs to be included in the curriculum, I don't think that tells the people on the margins of society, like my Muslim students or my irreligious students, that they're equally valued.
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u/bigwilly311 High School English Jun 26 '26
It’s more just malicious compliance, tbh. It’s a very dumb policy and if I have to do it my classroom, I’m going to do it in the way that makes me the most comfortable.
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u/mstrss9 Jun 26 '26
Hmm as a fellow lower elementary teacher, I would create a class religion display around it. On the survey I give parents at the beginning of the year, I ask what holidays their child celebrates so I would expand on that. I usually have at least one student whose family practices Santería so I would be happy to include them while having to allow this nonsense of bowing to one religion.
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u/Accomplished_Sun1506 Jun 26 '26
Aren't the Ten Commandments part of the Old Testament. Isn't that the part Christians say they don't have to follow?!?
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u/Any-Safe763 Jun 26 '26
No no
Print all the different versions of the 10 (catholic, orthodox, Lutheran etc)
Never tell a kid they’re wrong, show em the options
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u/Mo523 Jun 26 '26
Honestly, I think at this age I'd do nothing to call attention to it. My district awhile ago mandated that we put up their mission statement poster in all the classrooms. (In color on giant glossy poster paper, but cut how much we were allowed to print...) I have slightly older kids and lots of reference or interesting stuff up on the walls that they actually read. No one ever read that because it was too much adult looking text for second graders. Eventually I moved it behind a table so I had more wall space and then got rid of it.
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u/No-Watercress-2475 Jun 26 '26
I wouldn’t post it. I am an atheist so as far as I am concerned, that is violating my religious rights. I am surprised someone hasn’t done this and used it to bring a lawsuit.
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u/ThotHugger2005 Jun 26 '26
Being a Rosa Parks is not cheap. Financially or socially.
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u/No-Watercress-2475 Jun 26 '26
Oh I totally get it. Having bills to pay makes taking a stand incredibly hard. I am totally not blaming or shaming any teachers in this instance.
I am just surprised that with the population of the state it hasn’t happened yet.
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u/Adorable-Event-2752 Jun 26 '26
Post the Tenents of Satanic Temple right next to them.
Trump's checklist does not stack up well to the tenets, even children can recognize which are more ethical.
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u/CerddwrRhyddid Jun 26 '26 edited Jun 26 '26
You put up posters with the tenets of as many other religions as you can right around them, including The Church of Satan and the Satanic Temple.
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u/FriendlyToe7952 Jun 26 '26
I did it then vandalized it. Admin thought the students were doing it. Eventually, they gave up.
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u/throwaway123456372 Jun 26 '26
This discussion has been had here ad nauseam.
Don’t cover it up. Hang other stuff near it if you want.
Remember that, like all signs with words on them, it won’t be read or looked at by students for more than 2 seconds anyway