Wilson County school board votes to display Ten Commandments

Schools in Wilson County will soon display the Ten Commandments. The school board approved the policy change after state lawmakers passed a measure earlier this year allowing Tennessee schools to post the religious text along with other historical documents.  

The board’s vote was unanimous, though member Melissa Lynn still expressed concerns.  

 “I don’t disagree with the Ten Commandments, but I’ve had many reach out to say they do not support this,” she said. “I get it, we’re America. We are a Christian nation. I get it. But there are still a lot of other people, different religions, in the schools.”

The text won’t be in classrooms but will be located in a prominent place, which may vary from school to school.

Lynn noted that the documents will spark questions — especially from young students — no matter where they’re located. 

“Are we going to put a teacher in the position of having to explain what some of the Ten Commandments mean?” she asked.

State law change

The state law — which went into effect on July 1 — is not a mandate. Rather, it allows schools to post the text alongside the Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, and Tennessee Constitution. 

Wilson County Schools is among the first districts to take a step towards exercising this option. Vice Chairman Greg Hohman stressed that the move isn’t about religious indoctrination, but rather keeping students abreast of important foundational documents. 

“I think the Ten Commandments are presented here in more of a historical influence context,” he said. “It’s a source of material that shaped the western legal and ethical traditions reflected in later civic documents, not as really a devotional instruction consistent with the bill sponsors.”

Board member Jamie Farough echoed his sentiments, noting that the school district offers Bible classes — but as a history lesson rather than a religion course. 

The measure passed the Senate 27-6 in March after first being introduced during the 2025 legislative session. Sen. Mark Pody, R-Lebanon, sponsored the bill.   

Tennessee is one of a handful states that brought 10 commandment bills to their legislatures in the last few years. Some states, like Louisiana and Texas, passed stricter laws that made the display a mandate rather than an option. 

The Ten Commandments probably won’t be displayed at the beginning of the 2026-27 school year in Wilson County, according to district spokesperson Bart Barker. He told WPLN News that the district is still working through some pricing and design logistics. Once that’s sorted, the display will be in every K-12 school in the district.