Louisiana Mandates Ten Commandments Posters in All Classrooms
Louisiana has made history as the first US state to mandate the display of the Ten Commandments in every public school classroom, extending from elementary schools to universities. Governor Jeff Landry signed this Republican-supported legislation into law on Wednesday. The law asserts that the Ten Commandments are “the foundational documents of our state and national government.”
Civil rights groups are expected to challenge the law, arguing that it breaches the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause, which ensures the separation of church and state. The First Amendment explicitly states: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”
The law stipulates that each poster must prominently feature the Ten Commandments in a large, easily readable font on an 11×14 inch (28×35.5 cm) display. These posters must also include a four-paragraph context statement explaining the historical significance of the commandments in American public education over nearly three centuries. By 2025, all classrooms receiving state funding are required to display these posters, though no financial aid from the state will be provided to produce them.
Similar legislative efforts are underway in other Republican-led states, such as Texas, Oklahoma, and Utah. The display of the Ten Commandments in public spaces has been a contentious issue, leading to numerous legal battles across the United States involving schools, courthouses, and police stations.
Notably, in 1980, the US Supreme Court struck down a similar Kentucky law mandating the display of the Ten Commandments in schools. In a close 5-4 decision, the court ruled that the law lacked a secular legislative purpose and was inherently religious. The ruling highlighted that the commandments not only address criminal matters like killing and stealing but also include religious directives, such as observing the Sabbath.
As Louisiana moves forward with this new requirement, it is poised to ignite significant debate and legal scrutiny regarding the intersection of religion and public education in the US.
