Every classroom in Texas could be made to display the Ten Commandments prominently, after lawmakers advanced a proposal to push more religion into schools.
A parallel bill also approved by the Republican-controlled Texas senate on Thursday would require educational establishments to set aside time every day for students and employees to read the Bible or other religious manuscripts, or to pray.
The attempts to further erode separation of church and state follow a US supreme court ruling last summer that sided with a former public high-school football coach in Washington state who was fired for praying with players after games.
The conservative panel ruled 6-3 the school district violated the constitutional rights of the coach, Joseph Kennedy. The district settled with Kennedy last month, for almost $2m.
Phil King, a Republican Texas state senator, cited the case in a committee hearing earlier this month as he introduced the Ten Commandments bill, according to Houston news channel ABC13.
“[It] will remind students all across Texas of the importance of the fundamental foundation of America,” he said.
On Thursday, state senators advanced both bills for consideration by the house.
They have the backing of the Texas lieutenant governor, Dan Patrick, who on his personal website describes himself as “a Christian first, conservative second and Republican third”.
“I believe that you cannot change the culture of the country until you change the culture of mankind,” Patrick said in a statement. “Bringing the Ten Commandments and prayer back to our public schools will enable our students to become better Texans.”
The push to promote religion in public schools has gathered pace. There was opposition last August to the distribution of “In God We Trust” banners after a state law took effect requiring public campuses to display donated items bearing the phrase.
“These posters demonstrate the more casual ways a state can impose religion on the public,” Sophie Ellman-Golan of Jews for Racial and Economic Justice told the Guardian at the time. “Alone, they’re a basic violation of the separation of church and state. But in the broader context, it’s hard not to see them as part of the larger Christian nationalist project.”
Opponents of the Ten Commandments bill spoke in the legislature earlier this month.
“I should have the right to introduce my daughter to the concepts of adultery and coveting one’s spouse,” John Litzler, general counsel and director of public policy at the Texas Baptists Christian Life Commission, said, according to ABC13.
“It shouldn’t be one of the first things she learns to read in her kindergarten classroom.”
