Editor, Commonwealth:
The distance of separation between church and state can be as complicated as separation of talking and teaching.
When we talk about the three words of sabbath, slave and stones separately, they are generally uncomplicated to define meaning, but when we try to apply them together in edict-driven teaching for discourse concerning a doctrine for public consumption, the challenge can be very confusing, complex and chaotic.
Sabbath is defined as a day; slave is defined as a person; and a stone is defined as a rock. All three of these simple words are embedded in the Ten Commandments. The term commandment is defined as a behest.
While this writer has no problem with teaching the Bible or the commandments, teaching either of these sources to children will require a skill set, mastery and competence level many may not have nor have the time, resources and wherewithal to do in addition to other areas expected in today’s public school classrooms.
The optimal place and learning space for our underpaid and overworked teachers to command would be across the arts and the sciences of the already required curriculum — two academic areas of pedagogy for children that are already packed with human complexity.
If higher purpose teaching is premium, let’s pay our already overtaxed teachers the money, the recognition and celebration they deserve.
Joseph Martin Stevenson
Madison
