Graydon Hicks, the Superintendent of Fort Davis ISD, recently ignited conversations in the Fort Davis community with a post he shared on the private Facebook group, “Fort Davis Community Chat.” In his post, Hicks referenced the Founders’ Bible, emphasizing how America’s early educational vision was influenced by religious principles. This could be seen to suggest a parallel with Hicks’ viewpoint on the role of faith in contemporary education.
Hicks highlighted the contributions of Noah Webster, often termed the “Schoolmaster to America,” drawing from the Founders’ Bible, pages 1007-1009. Notably, Webster’s “American Dictionary of the English Language” underscored the significance of an independent American educational system. Hicks accentuated how Webster, among other founders, championed American education’s divergence from British influences and integrated it with moral and religious lessons. For instance, Webster’s textbooks regularly incorporated Christian principles and underscored the value of recognizing the Creator, especially during formative years.
Moreover, Hicks shed light on the Founders’ Bible itself, authored by historian David Barton. This work illuminates America’s intertwined religious and historical roots, showcasing how faith influenced its foundational educational, legal, and political systems.
However, the post’s removal from the Fort Davis Community Chat, following robust debates in the comments—primarily centered on the nexus of religion and politics—became a point of contention. Viewing this as an act of censorship, Hicks voiced his concerns on his personal Facebook, commenting, “Censorship is alive and well on Fort Davis Community Chat. Removing my Did You Know posts proved the very point of my posting them.”
On his personal page, Hicks consistently shared Barton’s excerpts, reinforcing his belief in acknowledging the role of religious values in shaping the nation.
The unfolding events have sparked discussions both in support of and against Hicks’ perspective, especially regarding religion’s place in public education and the broader theme of community discourse censorship. The Fort Davis ISD community remains divided over the superintendent’s insights into education, faith, and American prosperity’s origins.
