The Texas Senate has approved two bills that have stirred controversy in the state.
The bills require public schools to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom and to allow time for prayer and Bible reading on school days.
After receiving 17 affirmative votes and 12 negative votes, the legislation will be forwarded to the Texas House of Representatives.
However, civil liberty advocates have expressed their dissent, contending that lawmakers should not be authorized to determine the religious materials that students are exposed to.
Display of the Ten Commandments and Prayer Time in Schools
According to CNN, Senate Bill 1515, authored by state Sen. Phil King, requires the Ten Commandments to be displayed in every public school classroom in Texas.
The bill states that the commandments must be displayed in a conspicuous place and in a size and typeface that are legible to a person with average vision from anywhere in the classroom.
The law will be effective from the 2023-2024 school year, and immediate action will be taken if it receives a two-thirds vote in each house.
If the bill does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, it takes effect on September 1, 2023.
In addition to the Ten Commandments bill, the Senate passed Senate Bill 1396, which requires schools to allow time for students and employees to pray and read the Bible on each school day.
The bill also passed with a 17-12 vote. Supporters of the legislation argue that it will enable students to express their religious beliefs freely.
According to Fox, King further stated that the proposed legislation would serve as a reminder to students throughout Texas about the significance of America's fundamental foundation.
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Controversy and Backlash
The passage of the bills has drawn backlash from civil liberty advocates who argue that the state should not be dictating what religious materials students are exposed to in public schools.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas released a statement saying that parents should be able to decide what religious materials their child should learn, not the Texas legislature.
Opponents argue that it violates the separation of church and state and could lead to discrimination against students who do not share the same religious beliefs.
During a hearing earlier this month, as per NBC, John Litzler, who serves as the public policy director for the Christian Life Commission and as general counsel for Texas Baptists, stated that it is the obligation of religious institutions such as churches to instruct children about their religious freedoms and not the role of the state.
The bills represent a continuation of a push in Texas to promote the display of religious symbols in public schools.
Last year, the state passed a law that requires schools to display posters with the phrase "In God We Trust" if they are paid for by private donations.
Parental Bill of Rights
The passage of the two bills on religion in public schools comes shortly after the Senate passed legislation known as the Parental Bill of Rights.
The recently passed Parental Bill of Rights grants parents a yearly allowance of $8,000 to support the expenses of home-schooling or private school tuition, allowing them to withdraw their children from public schools.
The bill is viewed as a triumph for conservative activists who have persistently campaigned for greater parental choice in education.
