Should New York Post the 10 Commandments in Classrooms?

Louisiana recently made it law that the Ten Commandments be displayed in school classrooms and this has raised the question of whether New York should or ever would do the same.

According to Louisiana state law, "Each public school governing authority shall display the Ten Commandments in a prominent location within each school under the jurisdiction of the governing authority."

The question arises as to whether other states, such as New York, would ever consider implementing this requirement. It's important to note that the separation of church and state is a key principle in American government and law. This means that the government cannot endorse or promote a specific religion or religious doctrine.

Given this legal precedent, it's unlikely that New York would pass a law requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public school classrooms. The U.S. Supreme Court has repeatedly ruled that the government cannot endorse one religion over another.

However, it's worth considering the broader issue of whether religious or moral education should have a place in public schools. The Establishment Clause prohibits government entities - which includes public schools -  from endorsing, promoting, or establishing any religion, many argue that there is value in teaching students about various religions and moral principles, including the Ten Commandments.

Additionally, some argue that the Ten Commandments represent an important historical and cultural tradition that should be recognized. The commandments are important to many religions and can be studied from a historical or literary perspective, even if their religious significance is not being promoted by the school.

Get our free mobile app

Ultimately, New York is unlikely to ever follow in Louisiana's footsteps by requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public school classrooms but there is no doubt that this will be a topic many in the state will be discussing over the next few weeks.