The Ten Commandments Debate: What You Need to Know

There's a big debate going on about the Ten Commandments in schools. Two states, Texas and Louisiana, passed laws to put the Ten Commandments in every public school classroom. The governors of these states believe that the Ten Commandments are the foundation of their laws and values. But not everyone agrees. Some people think this goes against the First Amendment, which says the government can't favor one religion over another. They sued, and the courts stopped the laws from being enforced. Now, the case is being heard by a higher court. The First Amendment says, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion. " Some people argue that this only applies to the federal government, not the states. They say the founders wanted each state to decide its own rules about religion. Others believe the First Amendment should apply to all levels of government.The idea of "separation of church and state" comes from a letter written by Thomas Jefferson, but it's not actually in the Constitution. Some people think this idea has been misused to remove religious values from public life. The Ten Commandments are a big part of both Jewish and Christian traditions. They represent shared moral values. The Supreme Court building even has a carving of Moses holding the Ten Commandments. So, some people argue that it's okay to display them in public places. The courts have been confusing about this issue. They've made different rulings in similar cases. Some people hope the Supreme Court will clarify the rules. For now, the court hearing the case needs to decide if Texas and Louisiana can put the Ten Commandments in their schools.