On Sunday, the Texas House of Representatives passed a bill requiring public schools to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom. The irony couldn’t be more obvious: they passed a Christian-themed bill on a Sunday, violating the Fourth Commandment—“Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.”
How many other commandments have these lawmakers broken?
- “Thou shalt not bear false witness” — Political dishonesty is basically its own department.
- “Thou shalt not commit adultery” — Trump won Texas by over 600,000 votes, despite being a serial adulterer. Should he be banned from visiting the state?
- “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” — In Texas, football is god. Are Sunday Cowboys games canceled out of reverence for the Sabbath? Not a chance.
This isn’t about morality or improving education. It’s about power. It’s about performative piety and Christian nationalism flexing its muscle in public institutions. And it’s intimidating—to non-Christians, nonbelievers, and anyone who still believes in the First Amendment.
Let’s be clear: I’ve never read a peer-reviewed study that says posting the Ten Commandments boosts learning, test scores, or student behavior.
But here’s what we do know works: universal free meals.
A 2020 study published in JAMA Network Open found that when schools provide free breakfast and lunch to all students, test scores rise, absenteeism drops, and behavioral outcomes improve—especially in low-income communities.
Citation: Gordon, A. R., et al. (2020). Association of Universal School Meals With Student Participation, Attendance, and Academic Performance. JAMA Network Open, 3(6):e205193.
But What About the Constitution?
The Supreme Court has ruled repeatedly that government-endorsed religious displays in public schools violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.
Some landmark cases:
- Engel v. Vitale (1962) – Ruled that it is unconstitutional for public schools to sponsor prayer, even if it’s non-denominational.
- Abington School District v. Schempp (1963) – Held that Bible readings and other religious activities in public schools are unconstitutional.
- Stone v. Graham (1980) – This one’s key: The Court explicitly struck down a Kentucky law requiring the posting of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms, stating it served no secular purpose and violated the Establishment Clause.
- Lee v. Weisman (1992) – Found that even school-sponsored prayer at graduation ceremonies is unconstitutional due to its coercive nature.
- Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe (2000) – Ruled that student-led prayer at football games, even if initiated by students, is unconstitutional if facilitated by the school.
Texas lawmakers are ignoring decades of legal precedent. This isn’t about educating children—it’s about imposing religion on them. And that’s not just un-American—it’s unconstitutional.
What Actually Improves Education?
If lawmakers truly cared about improving schools, they’d:
- Fund universal school meals.
- Hire more mental health counselors.
- Invest in teacher salaries, modern textbooks, and school infrastructure.
Instead, they’re putting up stone tablets and calling it reform.
Let’s teach ethics through action, not indoctrination. Feed students. Support them. Empower them to think freely—including the freedom not to believe.
Because when religion is forced, it’s no longer faith—it’s control.