Texas schools now must display the Ten Commandments in every classroom as Governor Abbott signs landmark legislation, asserting America’s religious foundations despite fierce opposition from church-state separation advocates.
Key Takeaways
- Texas has enacted a law requiring all 9,100 public schools to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms, affecting 5.5 million students.
- The displays must be 16×20 inches, use King James Bible language, and be visible from anywhere in the classroom.
- Schools must implement these displays by September 1, 2025, and are required to accept private donations for the displays.
- Similar laws in Louisiana have been blocked as unconstitutional, suggesting Texas’ law will face legal challenges.
- Governor Abbott previously successfully defended a Ten Commandments monument at the Texas Capitol before the Supreme Court in 2005.
Abbott Signs Bill Restoring Biblical Values to Texas Education
Governor Greg Abbott has signed groundbreaking legislation requiring the Ten Commandments to be prominently displayed in every public school classroom across Texas. The new law, which takes effect September 1, mandates that all 9,100 public schools in the state install 16×20 inch framed or poster displays of the Ten Commandments using specific King James Bible language. This bold move reinforces traditional values in education and creates a moral framework for the state’s 5.5 million public school students who will now have daily exposure to these foundational religious directives.
“Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced Saturday that he signed a bill into law, that would require all public school classrooms in his state to display the Ten Commandments,” said Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.
The legislation, which passed easily through the Republican-controlled state House and Senate, specifies that the commandments must be readable from anywhere in the classroom. Schools can use district funds to purchase the displays but are not required to do so. Importantly, the law requires schools to accept private donations for the displays if they meet the specified requirements, creating a pathway for community involvement in supporting this initiative to restore traditional values in educational settings.
Supporters Emphasize Historical and Moral Foundations
Proponents of the law argue that the Ten Commandments represent the historical and moral underpinnings of American society and its legal system. Republican state representative Candy Noble, who championed the bill, emphasized its historical significance rather than purely religious intent. Many Texas parents have expressed support for the measure, seeing it as a return to traditional values that have been systematically removed from public education over decades by activist judges and leftist educational bureaucrats.
“The focus of this bill is to look at what is historically important to our nation educationally and judicially,” said Republican state representative Candy Noble.
Local Texan Laine Boyd vocalized what many conservatives feel about the measure: “My thoughts are yes, I think that’s a great idea. We’ve lost a lot of trust in our school system and those 10 commandments are a great start.”
Legal Challenges Expected as Opposition Mounts
The new law is already facing criticism from leftist organizations and activists who claim it violates the separation of church and state principles. Similar legislation in Louisiana was recently blocked by federal courts as unconstitutional, though that state plans to appeal to the Supreme Court if necessary. Critics argue that mandating Christian religious texts in public schools fails to consider the diverse religious backgrounds of Texas students and potentially infringes on religious freedoms of non-Christian families.
Governor Abbott is no stranger to defending religious displays in government settings. In 2005, as Texas Attorney General, he successfully argued before the Supreme Court to maintain a Ten Commandments monument on the grounds of the Texas Capitol. This experience may prove valuable as the state prepares to defend the new law against the inevitable legal challenges from secular groups that have long opposed acknowledging America’s Judeo-Christian heritage in public institutions.
Implementation Challenges and Community Response
As schools prepare to implement the law by the September deadline, administrators face practical challenges of funding and installing thousands of displays across the state. While districts may use their funds for the displays, many schools are expected to rely on private donations to fulfill the requirements. The law mandates that schools must accept such donations if they meet the specified criteria, creating opportunities for religious and community organizations to support the initiative.
Public reaction has been mixed, with some Texans expressing concerns about potential divisiveness. Corpus Christi resident Trish Clayton offered a measured perspective: “My family, we don’t have a problem with it being posted, because that’s something we strive for, you know. But then we don’t want to step on anybody else’s toes. Maybe their set of religious rules don’t per se follow that.”
The Texas law represents a bold step in the ongoing national debate about the role of religion in public education. As implementation begins and legal challenges mount, this legislation could ultimately reach the Supreme Court, potentially establishing new precedents for religious displays in government institutions across America. With President Trump’s conservative appointments to the high court, supporters are optimistic that the law will ultimately be upheld, restoring a piece of America’s religious heritage to its educational system.
