Texas Schools May Soon See the Ten Commandments on Classroom Walls

Texas is on the brink of a significant change in its public-school classrooms. The state's House of Representatives has given the green light to Senate Bill 10. This bill, if it becomes law, will require every public-school classroom in Texas to display the Ten Commandments. The bill's journey isn't over yet. It needs to go back to the Senate for final approval before it reaches the governor's desk. Governor Greg Abbott is expected to sign it into law. The bill has sparked a heated debate. Critics argue that displaying religious texts in schools without proper context could lead to promoting one religion over others. This is a sensitive issue, as it touches on the separation of church and state, a fundamental principle in the U. S. Constitution. The Establishment Clause of the First Amendment is designed to prevent the government from favoring one religion over another. Supporters of the bill, however, see it differently. They believe that the Ten Commandments are a part of American educational tradition. They argue that these principles are foundational to American society. They want to bring them back into classrooms. The bill's sponsor in the House, state Rep. Candy Noble, has been a strong advocate for this view. She has cited historical and legal arguments to support the bill. The bill's future is uncertain. Legal challenges are likely. The U. S. Supreme Court has ruled on similar cases in the past. In 2005, the Court upheld a Ten Commandments display outside the Texas State Capitol. However, in 1980, the Court struck down a Kentucky law that mandated the display of the Ten Commandments in public-school classrooms. The question now is which precedent will dominate. The U. S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals is currently hearing a challenge to a similar law in Louisiana. This case could set a precedent for Texas. The debate in the Texas House was intense. Democrats proposed several amendments to the bill. These amendments were designed to push Republicans into acknowledging that the bill was meant to enshrine an explicitly Christian worldview in Texas classrooms. Republicans, however, shut down these amendments. They argued that the bill was about restoring tradition, not promoting one religion over others. The bill has also raised concerns about the practical implications of its implementation. Teachers may struggle to answer questions from young students about the Ten Commandments. Critics argue that this could lead to further introduction of a Christian worldview into public schools. They also point out that roughly a third of Texans are neither Christian nor Jewish. This raises questions about the inclusivity of the bill. The final speaker against the bill was state Rep. James Talarico. He is a former public schoolteacher and current seminary student. He argued that the bill could backfire. He suggested it might create a generation of atheists rather than Christians. He also pointed out that the separation of church and state protects both the state and the church.