Texas Mandates Display of the Ten Commandments in Public Schools
Texas has enacted a new law that will require every public school classroom to display the Ten Commandments. Signed by Governor Greg Abbott, the legislation positions Texas as the largest state to impose such a requirement, a move that is already fueling legal challenges from those who argue it violates the separation between church and state.
A comparable law in Louisiana was recently struck down by a federal appeals court as unconstitutional, and a similar mandate in Arkansas is currently facing judicial scrutiny. Despite these precedents, the Texas measure passed with ease in both the state House and Senate during the legislative session that ended on June 2.
Supporters of the law argue that the Ten Commandments form a core part of the nation’s judicial and educational heritage. Republican state representative Candy Noble, one of the bill’s co-sponsors, explained that the intent is to emphasize what is historically significant to American institutions.
The new statute requires each public school classroom to display a framed, specific English version of the Ten Commandments on a 16-by-20-inch poster. This requirement comes despite the fact that translations and interpretations of these texts vary widely across different faiths and cultural contexts. In addition, Texas lawmakers have authorized school districts to offer a daily, voluntary period for prayer or reading of religious texts during school hours.
Critics, including several leaders from Christian and other faith communities, contend that both the Ten Commandments display and the prayer initiative encroach on religious freedom. They highlight that Texas public schools serve nearly 6 million students from a diverse array of religious backgrounds, many of whom have little or no connection to the Ten Commandments.
State Attorney General Liz Murrell has stated her intention to appeal any legal challenges and is prepared to bring the case before the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary. This set of actions continues a long-standing debate over the appropriate role of religious symbols within public educational environments.
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