Recently, in a move to bring God back into the classrooms, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry signed a bill into law mandating the display of the Ten Commandments in all public school classrooms. This new law requires a poster-sized display of the Commandments to be hung in classrooms from elementary schools to universities. Supporters argue that the Ten Commandments played a vital role in the formation of our nation’s laws and traditions, making it an important addition to the classroom.
One significant aspect of this law is that it requires a four-paragraph context statement to be displayed alongside the Ten Commandments. This statement explains the historical and legal significance of the Commandments. It emphasizes that they are not just religious guidelines, but are also foundational documents of our state and nation’s government. This adds a deeper understanding of the Commandments and their impact on our country.
The new law does not allocate any state funds for the display. Instead, it allows for private donations to cover the cost, ensuring that it does not put a financial burden on the state. However, opponents of the law argue that it goes against the Constitution, specifically the First Amendment. They argue that it violates the separation of church and state by promoting a religious belief in a public school setting.
To challenge the law, a lawsuit has been announced by the American Civil Liberties Union, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and the Freedom from Religion Foundation. They cite the 1980 Supreme Court case Stone v. Graham, where a similar law in Kentucky was ruled unconstitutional. In this case, the Court applied the Lemon test to determine if the law violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. This test focuses on whether the law has a secular purpose, whether it primarily affects religion, and if it creates excessive government involvement with religion.
???? JUST IN: Louisiana has just become the first US state to REQUIRE the Ten Commandments be posted in classrooms across the state
Is this the right move? pic.twitter.com/NknHQilHZo
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) June 19, 2024
However, the Lemon test was abandoned in the 2022 case Kennedy v. Bremerton School District, where the Court determined that the Establishment Clause should be interpreted by looking at historical practices and understandings. Under this guidance, the Louisiana law has a good chance of being ruled constitutional. This is because the U.S. was founded on a biblical worldview, with the belief that a just God governs over the affairs of this world and has established divine laws that create inalienable rights.
The Ten Commandments, therefore, hold a significant place in our nation’s legal history. As Blackstone’s “Commentaries on the Law of England” stated, all human laws should not contradict the laws of nature and of revelation. The Ten Commandments establish the right to life, the right to own property, the right to not be falsely accused, and the importance of family. By displaying them in the classroom, students can gain a deeper understanding of the foundations of our country and the values it was built upon.
And based on the Bible!
Moses, the Lawgiver, is a statue that is no longer “politically correct.”
Moses, holding the two tablets of the Ten Commandments, is the center figure on the East Pediment of the Supreme Court building.
On the wall directly behind the Chief Justice’s… pic.twitter.com/VwaQrt8lZL
— Linda Marie Lovison (@lilo623) August 15, 2023
The decision to bring God back into the classrooms through the display of the Ten Commandments is not a violation of the Constitution, but rather a recognition of our nation’s history and values. As the cornerstone of our laws and traditions, the Commandments hold an important place in the classroom and can help shape students’ understanding of morality and ethics. This display serves as a reminder of the fundamental principles our country was founded on and the importance of acknowledging and celebrating our religious heritage.