They are leading the way.
Louisiana has enacted legislation requiring public school classrooms to display the Ten Commandments, making it the first state to mandate such a display. Sponsored by Republican Rep. Dodie Horton and signed into law by Republican Governor Jeff Landry, House Bill 71 stipulates that by January of the following year, every public school classroom in Louisiana must prominently feature a poster-sized copy of the Ten Commandments. These commandments, originating from the Old Testament books of Exodus and Deuteronomy, are recognized as foundational ethical guidelines in Judeo-Christian tradition.
Governor Landry underscored the legislation’s intent during the signing ceremony, emphasizing the historical importance of the commandments as fundamental to the rule of law. The bill outlines specific requirements for the display, including the size of the poster or framed document (at least eleven inches by fourteen inches) and the use of a large, easily readable font for the text. Additionally, each display must include a contextual statement explaining the historical role of the Ten Commandments in American public education, citing examples such as their inclusion in early American textbooks like The New England Primer and the works of William McGuffey.
However, the law is expected to face legal challenges from organizations advocating for the separation of church and state. Groups such as the ACLU and Americans United for Separation of Church and State argue that mandating the display of religious texts like the Ten Commandments in public schools violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, which prohibits government endorsement of religion. They point to previous legal precedents, including the 1980 Supreme Court decision in Stone v. Graham, where a similar law in Kentucky was struck down on constitutional grounds.
Supporters of the law contend that the display aims to recognize the historical and educational significance of the Ten Commandments rather than promote religious doctrine. They argue that the commandments have played a foundational role in shaping American and Louisiana law and culture. The legislation also allows for the display of other historical documents alongside the Ten Commandments, such as the Mayflower Compact and the Declaration of Independence, further framing it as an educational rather than exclusively religious initiative.
As the legal challenges unfold, the implementation of this law in Louisiana is poised to spark broader debates about the balance between religious freedom, educational curriculum, and the constitutional principle of separation of church and state in public institutions across the United States.