Texas Senate Passes Bills on Religion in Schools

The Texas Senate has passed two contentious bills, SB 10 and SB 11, that seek to introduce religious elements into public schools. SB 10 mandates displaying the Ten Commandments in classrooms, while SB 11 allows designated time for prayer and reading of religious texts. Proponents, such as Senator Mayes Middleton, argue that the bills protect religious expression and counteract moral decline since prayer was removed from schools. Critics, however, argue that students already have the right to pray individually and these measures risk promoting a specific religion, potentially violating church-state separation principles. Concerns have been raised about non-Christian students facing pressure or coercion, and potential legal challenges under the First Amendment. The bills reflect broader efforts by the Christian Right to increase religious presence in public education, amid debates about declining church attendance and morality in America.