Last updated on July 2nd, 2024 at 07:58 am
Louisiana has established a ground-breaking law requiring all public schools to display the Ten Commandments. The bill, which mandates every classroom from kindergarten to state universities to hang a poster-sized display of the Ten Commandments, is the first of its kind, and was signed into law by Republican Gov. Jeff Landry. Although Gov. Landry didn’t explicitly approve the bill, he let the deadline for vetoing or signing the bill lapse, thereby allowing it to become law.
Proponents argue for its symbolic role as a historical document foundational in state and national government. The law stipulates that along with the commandments, classrooms should display an explanatory statement about their historical relevance in American public education. The displays, funded entirely by donations, should be in place by the start of 2025.
The legislation also authorizes, but doesn’t require, the display of the Mayflower Compact, the Declaration of Independence, and the Northwest Ordinance in K-12 public schools. Similar bills proposed in other states, like Texas, Oklahoma, and Utah, have failed to become law due to potential constitutional disputes.
Louisiana, a staunch Bible Belt state, saw the passage of this controversial legislation under a conservative leadership that has recently gained dominance in the state. With a two-thirds supermajority in the Legislature and a Republican hold on every statewide elected position, Louisiana’s conservative lawmakers have been successful in pushing a conservative mission.
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