Louisiana Becomes First State to Require Display of Ten Commandments in Public School Classrooms
Louisiana made history this week as Republican Governor Jeff Landry signed a bill into law that mandates the display of the Ten Commandments in every public school classroom. This move makes Louisiana the first state to require such a display.
Under the legislation, known as H.B. 71, a poster-sized display of the Ten Commandments in “large, easily readable font” must be placed in all public classrooms, from kindergartens to state-funded universities. Governor Landry expressed his excitement about the bill at a recent fundraiser in Tennessee, 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.”
However, not everyone is on board with this new law. The American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana has announced plans to file a legal challenge, arguing that the law violates the separation of church and state and is unconstitutional. They believe that politicians should not impose their religious beliefs on students and families in public schools.
Despite the controversy, supporters of the law, like Matt Krause of the First Liberty Institute, believe that displaying the Ten Commandments in schools is a way to remind students of the foundations of American and Louisiana law. The law also describes the Ten Commandments as “foundational documents of our state and national government.”
The displays must be in place in classrooms by the start of 2025 and will be paid for through donations, not state funds. The law also allows for the display of other historical documents like the Mayflower Compact and the Declaration of Independence in public schools.
While other states like Texas and Oklahoma have proposed similar bills, Louisiana is the first to successfully pass such a law. It remains to be seen how the legal challenges will unfold, but for now, Louisiana public school classrooms will soon be adorned with the Ten Commandments.
