Louisiana has become the first state to make it mandatory for every public school classroom to display the Ten Commandments. This decision comes from a Legislature dominated by Republicans, acting under a new governor who supports conservative policies.
Governor Jeff Landry signed the legislation into law, which requires a poster-sized display of the Ten Commandments in all public school classrooms, including kindergarten through state-funded universities. Landry emphasized that recognizing the rule of law should start with the original lawgiver, Moses, who received the commandments from God.
Critics of the law question its constitutionality and plan to challenge it in court.
Workers remove a monument (Via Finn West/Getty Images)
Supporters argue that the measure is not purely religious but has historical importance. According to the law’s language, the Ten Commandments are considered foundational to both state and national government.
The posters, accompanied by a brief statement explaining their historical significance in American public education, must be up in classrooms by the beginning of 2025. The law specifies that the cost of these posters will be covered by donations, not state funds.
Additionally, the law permits (but does not mandate) the display of other historical documents in K-12 public schools, such as the Mayflower Compact, the Declaration of Independence, and the Northwest Ordinance, which paved the way for new states to join the Union in the Midwest region.
