BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana has become the first state in the nation to mandate that public schools display the Ten Commandments in every classroom, a measure signed into law by Governor Jeff Landry. This unprecedented move has sparked a legal battle as a lawsuit filed by a group of parents claims the requirement is unconstitutional.
The law stipulates that from kindergarten through college, classrooms must showcase the biblical commandments on posters of at least 11 by 14 inches with text in a “large, easily readable font.” Additionally, a contextual statement must accompany the display, delineating the historical role of the texts in American public education from the late 17th to the late 20th centuries. Schools have until January 1 to comply, using either donated posters or funds.
The regulation swiftly ignited controversy following its passage by Louisiana’s Republican-majority state legislature. Just five days after the governor’s approval on June 24, legal challenges emerged, spearheaded by a broad coalition including the Freedom From Religion Foundation, Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, and the ACLU. Representing diverse faith backgrounds, nine Louisiana families are contesting the law’s adherence to the First Amendment provisions that safeguard freedom of religion.
Plaintiffs argue that the law’s implementation would force religious observance upon students, violating constitutional rights. They voiced concerns that the visibility of the Ten Commandments in educational settings could be seen as a state endorsement of a singular religious viewpoint, potentially creating a divisive and exclusive environment for students of varying or no faith.
In response to these legal pressures, U.S. District Judge John deGravelles has temporarily halted the display of the Ten Commandments in the classes of the five parishes home to the plaintiffs’ children. Additionally, the state’s Board of Elementary and Secondary Education has been instructed not to issue any implementation guidelines until a court ruling, scheduled no later than November 15.
During the ongoing judicial review, which includes a hearing set for September 30, the law’s broader implications and potential conflicts with past court decisions that have prohibited similar religious displays will be examined. Historically, such attempts have faced rejection, including a 1980 Supreme Court decision against a comparable statute in Kentucky.
Nevertheless, recent Supreme Court judgments indicate a possible shift toward greater accommodation of religious expressions within educational settings. This includes a 2022 case where the court supported a Washington state football coach’s right to pray publicly, which buttresses arguments favoring the Louisiana law.
The law has garnered applause from conservative circles and an endorsement from former President Donald Trump, who praised its alignment with traditional values during a notable evangelical gathering. It was also a talking point at the recent Republican National Convention, where Landry suggested, without evidence, that such moral teachings could have preventative effects on criminal behaviors.
This ongoing case reflects the nation’s deeper, polarized discourse over the role of religion in public spaces, particularly schools. As the debate unfolds, the resolution in Louisiana could set a precedent with significant ramifications for similar initiatives across the United States. Clear guidelines from upcoming judicial rulings will be crucial in navigating the delicate balance between religious freedom and the constitutional separation of church and state.