Texas is on track to become the largest state to mandate that public school classrooms display the Ten Commandments. A Republican-backed proposal passed a key vote in the Texas House Saturday and is expected to become law soon.
“The focus of this bill is to look at what is historically important to our nation educationally and judicially,” said Republican state Rep. Candy Noble, one of the bill’s co-sponsors.
If it passes the final vote, it heads to Governor Greg Abbott, who has already signaled he’ll sign it. The legislation requires all classrooms to post a 16-by-20-inch English version of the Ten Commandments. Critics argue the move violates the constitutional separation of church and state, and legal challenges are likely.
“We should be encouraging our students to read and study their Bible every day,” added Republican state Rep. Brent Money. “Our kids in our public schools need prayer, need Bible reading, more now than they ever have.”
Texas lawmakers also approved another bill allowing schools to offer daily voluntary prayer or scripture reading time. That bill is also expected to be signed by Abbott.
Some faith leaders oppose the law, saying it imposes one religion’s doctrine in diverse classrooms. A letter from Christian and Jewish leaders pointed out that “Texas has thousands of students of other faiths who might have no connection to the Ten Commandments.”
In 2005, Abbott defended a Ten Commandments monument at the Capitol before the U.S. Supreme Court—and won. Now, that same religious stance could soon shape Texas classrooms.
