Texas House to Vote on Bills Forcing Religion Into Classrooms
A high-stakes vote is set for tomorrow in the Texas House that could bring state-mandated religion into every public school classroom. Lawmakers will decide on two controversial bills: Senate Bill 10, which would require the Ten Commandments to be posted in all public school classrooms, and Senate Bill 11, which would allow school staff to actively promote prayer.
Both bills are backed by Republican leadership and are seen as the final step before being signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott. Critics say these bills are part of a larger push to inject Christian Nationalism into Texas public schools and to challenge long-standing legal precedent separating church and state.
Rep. James Talarico, a former public school teacher and current seminary student, has been a leading voice against both bills. He gained national attention two years ago when a viral exchange between him and the bill’s author helped block a similar Ten Commandments bill. Last week, he went viral again after grilling the House sponsor of SB 10, who refused to admit that church and state are supposed to be separate.
Senate Bill 11 raises even more legal red flags. It directly challenges Engel v. Vitale, the 1962 Supreme Court case that banned state-sponsored prayer in schools. The Senate sponsor of the bill dismissed that legal standard, saying:
“There is no such thing as ‘separation of church and state’ in our Constitution.”
Talarico issued the following statement:
“As a former public school teacher and a current seminary student, I know the classroom is no place for government-mandated religion. When politicians try to force religion into our public schools, they’re not protecting faith — they’re weaponizing it.
My grandfather was a Baptist preacher. I’ve been attending the same church since I was two years old. My faith means more to me than anything. But I don’t believe the government should be in the business of proselytizing to our kids.
It’s hard to be different as a kid. If you’re a Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, or atheist kid going to Texas public schools, it’s hard enough. Now, your teacher is posting the Ten Commandments on the wall and leading class in Christian prayer because some politicians in Austin are forcing them to.
Legislation like this is what gives Christianity a bad name. If we want to teach values, let’s fund our schools, support our teachers, and lead by example. Public schools are not Sunday schools — or as Governor Abbott is fond of saying: ‘Schools are for education, not indoctrination.’”
Both bills could become law unless House members stop them on the floor.
