NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WMOT) -- The Tennessee Legislature has passed a bill that would require school children to yearly recite a portion of the Declaration of Independence that reads in part “…that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.”
West Tennessee Democrat Johnny Shaw questioned the bill, noting it’s based on a Kansas law that has religious overtones.
“When I saw the original piece of legislation it kind of demanded that this was something that you had to do even if your faith was you don’t believe.”
Smyrna Republican Mike Sparks spoke in support of the bill, objecting to Rep. Shaw’s line of questioning.
“(I'll) just read a quick quote from George Washington where he said ‘It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.’ It’s part of history.”
The bill passed 72 to 8 with four abstentions and will go into effect this fall.
The bill does allow parents to exempt their children from the recitation if they file an objection at the beginning of the school year.
Children will begin reciting the Declaration in Kindergarten.