Louisiana classrooms display 10 Commandments - Fast Company

Louisiana mandates Ten Commandments in public schools, sparking controversy. GOP-led Legislature pushes conservative agenda under new governor. Legal battles expected.

Louisiana has made history by becoming the first state to pass a law requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in every public school classroom. This move comes as part of a conservative agenda pushed by a GOP-dominated Legislature under the leadership of Republican Gov. Jeff Landry.

The legislation signed into law by Gov. Landry mandates that a poster-sized display of the Ten Commandments, in "large, easily readable font," be placed in all public classrooms, from kindergarten to state-funded universities. The governor defended the law by stating that respecting the rule of law starts with acknowledging the original lawgiver, Moses, who received the commandments from God.

Critics of the law have raised concerns about its constitutionality and have vowed to challenge it in court. However, supporters argue that the measure is not solely religious but holds historical significance. The law itself refers to the Ten Commandments as "foundational documents of our state and national government."

In addition to the display of the Ten Commandments, the law also allows for the display of other historical documents in K-12 public schools, including the Mayflower Compact, the Declaration of Independence, and the Northwest Ordinance. These items are seen as important pieces of American history and government.

The posters displaying the Ten Commandments must be accompanied by a four-paragraph "context statement" describing their historical significance in American public education. The law requires that the displays be in place in classrooms by the beginning of 2025 and will be funded through donations rather than state funds.

Civil rights groups and organizations advocating for the separation of church and state have expressed opposition to the law, stating that it could prevent students with different beliefs from feeling safe at school. They argue that the government should not be taking sides in religious debates.

The controversial law in Louisiana reflects a new era of conservative leadership in the state, with the GOP holding a supermajority in the Legislature and Republicans occupying all statewide elected positions. Similar bills requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in classrooms have been proposed in other states, but legal challenges have prevented them from becoming law.

Legal battles over the display of the Ten Commandments in classrooms have a long history, with a 1980 U.S. Supreme Court ruling declaring a similar Kentucky law unconstitutional. The court found that the law violated the establishment clause of the U.S. Constitution by promoting a religious purpose rather than a secular one.

Overall, the decision to require the display of the Ten Commandments in Louisiana's public schools has sparked debate and legal challenges, highlighting the complex relationship between religion and government in the United States.