Louisiana has become the first state in the United States of America to mandate public schools ranging from kindergarten to college, to display the biblical 10 Commandments in classrooms.
This policy, supported by members of the Republican Party and enacted by Governor Jeff Landry on Wednesday, characterizes the commandments as the cornerstone documents of the state and national governments.
It is envisaged that the law will encounter opposition from civil rights organizations, The American Civil Liberties Union, who contend that it violates the principle of the separation of church and state.The theory is said to be protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, particularly the Establishment Clause.
It stated that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.
The state regulation mandates that a poster must feature the holy scripture in a font size that is large and clearly legible on a poster measuring 11 inches by 14 inches (28cm by 35.5cm), with the commandments being the primary subject of the exhibit.
Additionally, the poster will be presented with a four-paragraph “context statement” that will detail the role of the commandments as a significant aspect of American public education for nearly three centuries.
By 2025, these posters are required to be displayed in all classrooms that receive state financial support, although the state will not provide any funds for the creation of these posters.
Laws similar to this have been introduced in recent times by Republican-governed states such as Texas, Oklahoma, and Utah.