Texas is drawing a clear line between church and state—and it’s not in chalk. With the recent passage of Senate Bill 10, the state’s House has voted to require all public school classrooms to prominently display the Ten Commandments. The posters must be at least 16×20 inches, legible from anywhere in the room, and contain the full biblical text.
Governor Greg Abbott is expected to sign the bill, framing it as a return to “America’s Christian foundations.” Supporters claim it promotes moral clarity. But critics, including civil liberties groups and educators, are pushing back hard. They argue the bill is a constitutional overreach—one that erodes the religious freedom it claims to uphold.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled against a similar mandate in 1980, citing violations of the Establishment Clause. Legal scholars anticipate a fresh round of courtroom battles, with Texas now positioned as the national testing ground for the reintroduction of religion into public education.
This is not an isolated move. The bill is part of a broader conservative legislative agenda in Texas that includes initiatives on school prayer and religious charter schools. It signals a new era of ideological policymaking where faith-based education is being pushed through political pipelines.
But what does this mean for classrooms—especially those filled with diverse student populations? Critics warn the bill risks alienating non-Christian students and opening schools to sectarian tension. Others worry that moral instruction should come from homes and communities, not state mandates.
Whether viewed as a cultural revival or a constitutional violation, Texas’ decision could have ripple effects beyond its borders. The Ten Commandments may be hanging on classroom walls soon—but the larger question of who decides what belongs in our schools is far from settled.
