Legal hurdles have faced Texas as its law, SB-10, aims to require public schools to display the Ten Commandments, according to The Texas Tribune. This issue has blown up, as it seemingly violates religious freedom and the long-standing separation of church and state.
After the Fifth Circuit of Appeals upheld Louisiana’s version of this law on Feb. 20 and refused to make a ruling for Texas, this case is most likely going to the Supreme Court, according to Edweek.org.
Schools have long been a place for religious freedom and political neutrality. In essence, SB-10 is a blatantly unconstitutional proposal that undermines freedoms granted by the First Amendment, and the public must openly voice their opposition to make certain it is repealed.
Allowing this law to pass will set a dangerous precedent for religious freedom in schools nationwide.
Texas cannot simply ignore the other religions of students. Despite being inhabited mostly by Christians and Catholics, 32% of Texas’s population follows another religion, according to Pew Research.
Imagine a Hindu student having to view a large, unavoidable poster that states that there are no other gods except Jesus Christ. For students of other religions, the Ten Commandments would not just be a poster on the wall. It would be a message that minimizes their beliefs and family practices.
Schools are supposed to be a safe space for students. Requiring public schools to display the Ten Commandments will derail that by making non-Christian students feel excluded. This forces minority students to conform and avoid voicing their beliefs in fear of being reprimanded.
To ensure an impartial learning environment, all courts need to strike down this unconstitutional law and block the Texas state government from imposing its religious beliefs on impressionable students. This will ensure the continued neutrality of public school systems.
Even from outside of Texas, we can speak up by contacting representatives and elected officials who defend the separation of church and state. The most essential thing people can do is to voice dissent, even if the law does not apply to our state. Policies like this can have vast effects, so be ready to support local groups that defend the Constitution.
If this law is put into place, America will start down a dangerous path towards theocracy, where the Constitution is blatantly ignored. All students, regardless of faith, should be comfortable in a religiously neutral school environment and not feel that their own beliefs are being suppressed or deemed unacceptable.
