Louisiana has made history by becoming the first state to mandate the display of the Ten Commandments in every public school classroom. This legislative move is part of a broader conservative agenda championed by the GOP-dominated state legislature under newly elected Republican Governor Jeff Landry.
Legislation and implementation
The law, signed by Governor Landry on Wednesday, requires a poster-sized display of the Ten Commandments in “large, easily readable font” in all public classrooms, from kindergarten through state-funded universities. These posters will be accompanied by a context statement describing the historical significance of the Ten Commandments in American public education.
State funds will not be used for the implementation; instead, the posters will be financed through donations. The displays must be in place by the start of 2025. The law also allows, but does not require, the display of other historical documents, including the Mayflower Compact, the Declaration of Independence, and the Northwest Ordinance.
Opposition and legal challenges
Opponents of the law argue that it violates the constitutional separation of church and state. Civil rights groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and the Freedom from Religion Foundation, have vowed to challenge the law in court.
“The law violates the separation of church and state and is blatantly unconstitutional,” the groups said in a joint statement. They assert that the First Amendment ensures individuals can decide their religious beliefs without government pressure, and that this law imposes a particular religious doctrine on public school students.
Political and social implications
The controversial law reflects a new era of conservative leadership in Louisiana under Governor Landry, who succeeded two-term Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards in January. With Republicans holding a supermajority in the legislature and all statewide elected positions, the stage is set for advancing a conservative agenda.
State House Representative Dodie Horton, who authored the bill, defended it, stating that the Ten Commandments form the basis of Louisiana’s laws. She expressed hope that Louisiana would lead in reinstating moral codes in classrooms.
Historical context and future battles
Similar bills have been proposed in other states, such as Texas, Oklahoma, and Utah, but have faced legal hurdles. In 1980, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled a similar Kentucky law unconstitutional, stating it had no secular purpose and served a plainly religious one.
As Louisiana prepares for potential legal battles, the debate over the separation of church and state continues to intensify, reflecting broader national conversations about religion’s role in public life.