Louisiana governor signs law mandating Ten Commandments in school classrooms.
Louisiana has made history by becoming the first state to pass a law mandating the display of the Ten Commandments in every public school classroom. This move came after Republican Gov. Jeff Landry signed the bill, known as H.B. 71, into law last Wednesday. The legislation requires a poster-sized display of the Ten Commandments in “large, easily readable font” to be placed in all public classrooms, ranging from kindergartens to state-funded universities.
During a fundraiser in Tennessee, Gov. Landry expressed his excitement about signing the bill into law, stating, “I’m going home to sign a bill that places the Ten Commandments in public classrooms. And I can’t wait to be sued.”
Following the enactment of this law, the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana announced its intention to challenge the legislation in court. They argue that it violates a long-standing U.S. Supreme Court precedent and the First Amendment, which guarantees the separation of church and state.
In response to the impending legal challenge, the First Liberty Institute’s counsel, Matt Krause, lauded Louisiana’s decision, emphasizing the historical and traditional significance of the Ten Commandments in the state. He believes that displaying this historic document in schools serves as a reminder of the foundations of American and Louisiana law.
It is important to note that past Supreme Court decisions have addressed similar issues, with a ruling in 1980 declaring a Kentucky law requiring the posting of the Ten Commandments in public schools unconstitutional. The court found that the law lacked a secular purpose and primarily served a religious agenda.
Despite the potential legal hurdles, Louisiana’s law dictates that the Ten Commandments displays must be accompanied by a “context statement” explaining their historical importance. The law describes the Ten Commandments as “foundational documents of our state and national government.”
Furthermore, the posters displaying the Ten Commandments will be funded through donations rather than state funds. The legislation also allows for, but does not mandate, the display of other historical documents such as the Mayflower Compact, the Declaration of Independence, and the Northwest Ordinance in K-12 public schools.
While Louisiana has taken a bold step in requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in public schools, other states like Texas and Oklahoma have faced challenges in passing similar bills due to concerns over their constitutionality. In the face of potential legal battles, these states have struggled to enact similar legislation.
It remains to be seen how the legal battle over Louisiana’s Ten Commandments law will unfold, but it is clear that this controversial move has sparked debate and raised questions about the intersection of religion and public education.
