Texas Mandates Ten Commandments Display in Public School Classrooms
Texas has become the largest state to require that every public school classroom display the Ten Commandments. Governor Greg Abbott signed the new law on Saturday, marking another initiative by a conservatively led state to incorporate elements of historical religious tradition into the educational environment.
The law stipulates that each classroom must prominently feature a 16-by-20-inch poster or framed copy of a specific English version of the Ten Commandments. This requirement persists even though there are varied translations and interpretations among different faiths and denominations.
Proponents of the measure argue that the Ten Commandments are a foundational element of the nation’s judicial and educational heritage. One of the bill’s co-sponsors explained that the intent is to highlight what has historically been considered important in both educational and legal contexts.
On the other hand, critics—including leaders from several religious communities—warn that the mandate infringes on religious freedom. An open letter from dozens of Christian and Jewish faith leaders emphasized that with nearly 6 million students in about 9,100 public schools, many Texas students follow diverse faiths that may have little connection to the Ten Commandments.
In addition to the new display requirement, Governor Abbott also approved legislation that allows school districts to offer a daily voluntary period for prayer or for reading a religious text during school hours. These moves are part of broader efforts, predominantly in Republican-controlled states, to integrate religious practices into public education.
Past initiatives to feature the Ten Commandments in public spaces have met with legal challenges. A similar law in Louisiana was recently blocked by a federal appeals court, and Arkansas also faces challenges regarding its similar statute. In response, State Attorney General Liz Murrell has announced plans to appeal and, if necessary, escalate the issue to the US Supreme Court.
Notably, in 2005, then-Attorney General Abbott successfully defended a Ten Commandments monument on the Texas Capitol grounds before the Supreme Court, setting an important precedent for such measures in the state.
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