3 Ideas for Classrooms that would be Better Than the Ten Commandments

As of this writing, 15 US states are attempting to mandate that public schools put the Biblical Ten Commandments on classroom walls. Two states have succeeded — although one state (Louisiana) is blocked by a court — so the only state where the law has taken hold is Arkansas. I find this deeply disturbing for many reasons:

• I believe in the freedom of religion and non-religion. Every person, whether they are 3 or 93, has the right to believe what they want, and the right to reject what they don’t want. Public school is diverse and no religion should have predominance or the right to push their ideas no matter how “good” people think those ideas are.

• I’m not sure religious-based education is necessary. What is wrong with churches and parents that they need public school to push their rules? Sunday school and family time exist for this already. Why take educational space for something better done elsewhere?

• Those who push Ten Commandments displays often fail to uphold them. Like Aesop’s Crab Who Walked Sideways — nothing teaches acceptable hypocrisy like posting the Ten Commandments in states where pervy schemes and open cruelty are part of everyday life. Open-carry gun-loving states teaching “do not kill” as a value makes everything irrelevant.

• I’m not sure 3rd graders really need to know about not coveting their neighbor’s wife, or ass, or wife’s ass…

If we MUST have platitudes on the wall, here are my three ideas for something better:

If 10 is our magic number (is that because of our fingers? Would the Simpsons have 8 commandments?), then a better choice would be a combination of the Six Paramitas (or Perfections), which help you perfect your inner life, and Four Immeasurables, which help you relate to others.

The 6 Perfections are:

• Generosity – Giving every moment what you have to give.

• Discipline – Ethically doing what each moment requires. If it requires work, you work; if it requires rest, you rest; if it requires love, you love.

• Patience – Letting every moment take the time it needs.

• Joyous Effort – Giving each moment the energy, skill, and dedication it deserves.

• Concentration (or meditation) – Mental discipline and the ability to focus on exactly where you are.

• Wisdom – Understanding each moment with a combination of study, skill, experience, and heart.

There’s a lesson everyone needs. Once we have built a solid practice of goodness in ourselves, then we can learn the other thing Americans need to understand — how to get along with others.

The 4 Immeasurables are:

• Loving Kindness – The desire for others to be happy.

• Compassion – The desire for others not to suffer.

• Empathetic Joy – Allowing the happiness of others to be your happiness.

• Equanimity – A sense of peace that derives from balance and equality.

What could be more helpful in a country where we are on the brink of a constitutional crisis than reminding people of the rights they actually have here? In fact, if wall space is limited — the First Amendment by itself would be helpful. (Texas can add the Second, because — guns.)

Imagine how much stronger, better, and smarter America would be if every person knew we had the following rights:

1st Amendment: Guarantees freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and petition.
2nd Amendment: Protects the right to keep and bear arms.
3rd Amendment: Restricts the forced quartering of soldiers in private homes.
4th Amendment: Protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.
5th Amendment: Guarantees due process, protects against self-incrimination and double jeopardy, and establishes the power of eminent domain.
6th Amendment: Guarantees the right to a speedy and public trial, the right to counsel, and the right to confront witnesses.
7th Amendment: Preserves the right to a jury trial in civil cases.
8th Amendment: Forbids excessive bail and fines, and cruel and unusual punishment.
9th Amendment: States that the enumeration of specific rights in the Constitution does not deny or disparage other rights retained by the people.
10th Amendment: Reserves powers not delegated to the federal government to the states or the people.

I grew up getting educated about math (Multiplication Rock), science (Science Rock), language (Grammar Rock), and civics (America Rock) with catchy tunes and fun visuals expertly planted inside my animated viewing and after-school specials. From the way things are going — it’s clear taking these off the air has led to our downfall.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve sung I’m Just a Bill or Conjunction Junction as a way of explaining things we all really need to know. Also — Three IS a magic number.