Kern County board hears public testimony and legal warnings on proposal to post Ten Commandments in classrooms

The Kern County Board of Education on Dec. 17 heard extended public comment and legal analysis on a proposal to post the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms, but took no formal vote to adopt such a policy.

The issue drew about 17 people who signed up to speak, the board was told, and speakers both for and against the idea used the public-comment period to press trustees. Peter Eliasberg, chief counsel for the ACLU of Southern California, told trustees that the commandments are religious doctrine and that posting them on classroom walls would violate multiple provisions of the California Constitution as well as established U.S. Supreme Court precedent. "The 10 Commandments are, of course, religious doctrine," Eliasberg said, arguing the displays would prefer Christianity and Judaism and could not be reconciled with constitutional protections for students.

Why it matters: Trustees were repeatedly warned that adopting a mandatory posting requirement would likely trigger litigation and could obligate the county to pay plaintiffs' attorney fees if a court finds the displays…