Official ACLU statements and federal court records

Louisiana Becomes First State to Mandate Ten Commandments in Public School Classrooms by 2025

Jun 20, 2024, 03:11 PM

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry has signed a controversial bill into law that mandates the display of the Ten Commandments in all public school classrooms, from kindergarten to state-funded universities. This legislation, which makes Louisiana the first state to implement such a requirement, will take effect in 2025. The law specifies that the commandments must be displayed in a poster-sized format with large, easily readable font. The move has sparked significant debate and legal challenges, particularly from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which argues that it violates the separation of church and state as outlined in the First Amendment. Critics also point out that Louisiana ranks poorly in education and other social metrics, suggesting that legislative focus might be better directed elsewhere. Supporters, however, argue that the Ten Commandments provide moral guidance and are a foundational element of Western legal systems.