An initiative to require the display of the Ten Commandments in public schools has made headway in Louisiana’s legislature, stoking debate about the interplay between religious principles and public education. Known as HB71, the bill calls for the Ten Commandments to be displayed on 11 x 14-inch posters in every public classroom, with the financial burden to be carried by private donations rather than taxpayer funds.
State Representative Dodie Horton (R-Haughton) justified the move by arguing that the document has historical significance and provides a moral compass that transcends religious boundaries. The Ten Commandments, she claims, form the bedrock of legal systems across various cultures and religions, asserting that its display does not constitute advancing any particular religious worldview.
Nevertheless, past Supreme Court rulings cast doubt on the constitutionality of such a measure. Stone v. Graham, 1980, declared a similar mandate was mainly religious in nature and lacked secular purpose. Despite the historical legal precedents and controversies surrounding the issue, the bill passed with a majority vote in the 10-2 range and is slated for further deliberation in the full House. The bill’s fate remains uncertain as no other state has been successful in passing similar legislation.
