In June, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, a Republican, signed into law a controversial bill mandating that all public school classrooms display a poster of the Ten Commandments. Shortly after, Oklahoma’s State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Ryan Walters, made a similarly bold declaration: “Every teacher, every classroom in the state will have a Bible in the classroom and will be teaching from the Bible in the classroom.” Walters further justified his stance by claiming, “The separation of church and state appears nowhere in the Declaration of Independence or Constitution,” in an interview with PBS News Hour.
Since 2023, four states have either passed or are considering legislation mandating the display of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms. Arizona legislators approved a similar bill, but it was vetoed by Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs. Meanwhile, in Utah, a more diluted version of a mandate was passed, transforming from a requirement to display the Ten Commandments into a mandate that the text be included in classroom instruction.
Legal and Constitutional Concerns
Critics argue that these moves are clear violations of constitutional rights, particularly the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause. Heather Weaver, a senior staff attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union, called Louisiana’s law a breach of longstanding Supreme Court precedent. “The separation of church and state means that the government can’t use our public schools to religiously indoctrinate or convert students,” Weaver asserted.
In response, a group of parents filed a lawsuit against Louisiana in July, claiming the law infringes upon their First Amendment rights and those of their children. Their lawsuit argues that the mandate “unconstitutionally pressures students into religious observance, veneration, and adoption of the state’s favored religious scripture,” interfering with parents’ rights to oversee their children’s religious education.
Lawmakers Defend the Mandates
Despite potential legal battles, many lawmakers remain undeterred. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill defended the legislation, telling Newsmax, “There are people that don’t believe in our Constitution, and we can post that on the walls. This is a document that has historical roots in our country’s foundations. The United States Supreme Court has recognized that.”
Walters echoed this confidence, stating to PBS News Hour that, should legal challenges arise, “We will be victorious.” He expressed faith in the conservative leanings of Supreme Court justices appointed by former President Donald Trump, whom he described as “originalists” who adhere strictly to the Constitution.
Culture War in the Classroom
The push to include religious texts in public schools reflects broader cultural tensions in the education system. As progressive agendas in blue states face criticism, many Republican lawmakers seem determined to insert their own ideological narratives. In Louisiana, for example, much of the debate surrounding the Ten Commandments law was driven by claims that the mandate would improve students’ behavior and reinforce Christian values.
State Representative Sylvia Taylor (D-LaPlace), a co-sponsor of the Louisiana bill, argued that the legislation was necessary to guide children back to moral foundations. “A lot of people, their children, are not attending churches or whatever,” she said. “We need to do something in the schools to bring people back to where they need to be.”
Political Theater or Policy?
Despite the fervent support for these mandates, there’s a perception that much of the legislation is more political theater than substantive policy. Even if a law mandating the display of the Ten Commandments is struck down by the courts, its supporters can still claim the mantle of conservative Christian leadership. In Oklahoma, for instance, the announcement from Walters originally appeared to mandate Bible teachings in classrooms. However, a subsequent memo clarified that the Bible and the Ten Commandments would only be “referenced as an appropriate study of history, civilization, ethics, comparative religion, or the like,” which is far more likely to stand up to constitutional scrutiny.
Guidance issued in July from Oklahoma inched closer to constitutional limits by requiring that Bibles be present in classrooms and that Bible stories be used as examples in literary analysis.
A Legal Battle Ahead
As these mandates continue to roll out, the courts are expected to play a decisive role. A federal judge will soon determine whether Louisiana’s Ten Commandments mandate can be enforced. The implications of that decision could extend far beyond the state’s borders, shaping the future of religious education in public schools across the nation.
“Hundreds of thousands of kids are going to be required to see these displays every day in every classroom,” Weaver warned. “This is an obvious attempt to use our public schools to convert kids to Christianity. We live in a democracy, not a theocracy.”
The outcome of these lawsuits could redefine the boundaries of religious influence in America’s public education system.