Texas Senate Advances Bills Mandating Ten Commandments and Prayer in Schools

The proposed legislation reflects a broader push by conservative lawmakers to integrate religion into public education, sparking legal and ideological debate.

• A Texas Senate committee approved bills requiring public schools to display the Ten Commandments and allowing schools to organize prayer periods for students.
• Supporters argue the measures will restore moral standards and reflect America's Christian heritage, citing recent Supreme Court rulings as legal justification.
• Opponents, including religious scholars and some Christian groups, warn the bills violate church-state separation and risk alienating non-Christian students.
• The Ten Commandments bill mandates a 16x20-inch display in classrooms, while the prayer bill requires parental consent for student participation in prayer sessions.
• If passed, the legislation is expected to face legal challenges, with proponents optimistic about its chances before the conservative-leaning U.S. Supreme Court.

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