One North Texas school district is among those impacted by a recent court ruling.
TEXAS, USA — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Monday instructed Texas public schools not impacted by a recent court ruling to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms, in keeping with a new state law.
The news comes after a judge last week temporarily blocked the requirement, which is set to take effect Sept. 1, from being enforced in at least nine school districts, including one in North Texas. Paxton appealed the ruling.
A group of Texas families and religious leaders had sought to block the new law, Senate Bill 10, from taking effect, at least temporarily, arguing the law violates the First Amendment principles of separation of church and state and free exercise of religion. Eleven Texas school districts, including Plano ISD in North Texas, as well as Alamo Heights, North East, Cypress Fairbanks, Lackland, Lake Travis, Fort Bend, Dripping Springs and Northside, Austin and Houston ISDs were named in a lawsuit seeking to block enforcement of the law.
“Even though the Ten Commandments would not be affirmatively taught, the captive audience of students likely would have questions, which teachers would feel compelled to answer. That is what they do,” Judge Fred Biery wrote in the ruling granting the temporary injunction last week.
Paxton said in a press release that the school districts affected by the temporary injunction are Alamo Heights, North East, Cypress Fairbanks, Lackland, Lake Travis, Fort Bend, Dripping Springs, Plano and Northside ISDs, and all other school districts must abide by the law starting Sept. 1.
“From the beginning, the Ten Commandments have been irrevocably intertwined with America’s legal, moral, and historical heritage,” Paxton said. “Schools not enjoined by ongoing litigation must abide by S.B. 10 and display the Ten Commandments. The woke radicals seeking to erase our nation’s history will be defeated. I will not back down from defending the virtues and values that built this country.”
Civil liberties groups, including the ACLU, argue the law violates First Amendment rights, while conservatives and some religious groups argue the Ten Commandments are foundational to the U.S.’ judicial and educational systems and should be displayed in classrooms.
Texas is the largest state to attempt such a requirement, the Associated Press reported. A federal appeals court has blocked similar laws in Louisiana and Arkansas. AP reports that in Louisiana — the first state that mandated the Ten Commandments be displayed in classrooms — a panel of three appellate judges ruled that the law was unconstitutional in June.