State First to Require Ten Commandments in All Public Classrooms
In a landmark move, Louisiana has become the first state to require the display of the Ten Commandments in all public school classrooms. Governor Jeff Landry signed House Bill 71 into law yesterday, mandating that classrooms from kindergarten through state-funded colleges and universities prominently feature the Ten Commandments in a “large, easily readable font.”
Educational Purpose
The purpose of this new law, as stated, is to educate the public on “historically significant documents” that have shaped both American and Louisiana law. Governor Landry emphasized the educational importance of this initiative, stating, “Including the Ten Commandments in the education of our children is part of our state and national history, culture, and tradition.”
Legislative Support and Funding
The Louisiana Senate and House passed the measure with overwhelming support, reflecting the bill’s strong bipartisan backing with votes of 30-8 and 82-19, respectively. A key provision of the law is that the displays will be funded through donations, not state funds, and must be in place by January 1, 2025
Each display will also include a four-paragraph “context statement” explaining the historical significance of the Ten Commandments and their role in American public education for nearly three centuries.
Role in American History & Mayflower Compact
The law underscores the Ten Commandments‘ pivotal role in the nation’s history, quoting James Madison, the fourth President of the United States, who said the Founders “staked the whole future” of the country on the people’s ability to “govern ourselves according to the moral principles of the Ten Commandments.”
Additionally, the measure permits but does not mandate, the display of other foundational documents such as the Mayflower Compact, the Declaration of Independence, and the Northwest Ordinance of 1787. These documents, the law states, are integral to understanding the link between civil society and foundational principles.
Mayflower Compact
“The Mayflower Compact of 1620 was America’s first written constitution and made a Covenant with Almighty God to ‘form a civil body politic.’ This was the first purely American document of self-government and affirmed the link between civil society and God,” the law elaborates.
Regarding the Northwest Ordinance, the law highlights its relevance to education, noting that it encouraged schools to include “religion, morality, and knowledge” as essential to “good government and the happiness of mankind.”
Constitutional Challenges and Legal Precedents
Opponents of the law have signaled intentions to challenge its constitutionality based on the Establishment Clause. However, the law’s proponents point to several U.S. Supreme Court rulings that support the display of religious texts on government property. Notably, in Van Orden v. Perry (2005), the Supreme Court upheld a Ten Commandments monument on Texas state capitol grounds. More recently, in American Legion v. American Humanists Association (2019), the High Court recognized the Ten Commandments’ historical significance and cultural heritage.
Liberty Counsel‘s Founder and Chairman Mat Staver expressed strong support for the law, stating, “The Ten Commandments have shaped American law and government. There are about 50 displays of the Ten Commandments inside and outside the U.S. Supreme Court. The official seal of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals contains the Ten Commandments. They have made an indelible impact on American law and government.”
As Louisiana forges ahead with this initiative, it sets a precedent for other states to follow, emphasizing the importance of historical and moral education in shaping future generations.
