Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas has endorsed the offcampus distribution to schoolkids of book covers with the Ten Commandments printed on them, saying they’re values no one could argue with. However, values such as “Only worship the one true God” (nope, there’s never been any dispute over that one) or “Do not misuse God’s name” (which one?) or “Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy” (as long as it doesn’t fall between Monday and Friday) did spur some argument–from liberal organizations such as People for the American Way, among others. The back cover features quotations from such apparently indisputable role models as Michael Jordan and Oprah Winfrey, and both sides prominently display the Web address for the Total Living Network. Does the school system support the deification of a sports star and a media celebrity? How do the promotions of an evangelical group with a budding television network serve 100,000 schoolchildren? One might even argue on behalf of the Commandments themselves that they’ve been shamefully dumbed down. But that would be a waste of time. You “do not murder,” “do not steal,” “do not worship idols,” and you just don’t argue with the CEO.
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Thou shalt shun those who do not pass the Test
Thou shalt smile while walking through the metal detector, remain in class during random locker searches, and give joyful consent to strip searches, for you shall be known by your good attitude
Art accompanying story in printed newspaper (not available in this archive): illustration/Terry LaBan.
