In a response filed in district court this week, the Giles County School Board argues that Ten Commandment displays in public high schools are acceptable because no public funds were used to purchase them, and private individuals will be posting them. The Roanoke Times reports on the school board's filing.
By asserting it played no direct role in the matter, the school board argues that the display amounts to a private statement made on public property.
The student and his or her parent have "utterly failed to connect the district's adoption of a resolution providing for the erection of private historical displays to an impermissible endorsement of religion," said lawyers for Liberty Counsel, a Christian-based legal group representing the school board for free.
Of course, they are left with the fact that schools will host Ten Commandment displays, which would seem to give a clear impression of official endorsement, no matter who literally hangs them up on the wall. Will they open the space up to other members of the community to post their own religious documents as well?
