AUSTIN, Texas — The debate over placing copies of the Ten Commandments in public schools has moved to the Texas House.

What You Need To Know

  • Senate Bill 10 would require public schools to display a Ten Commandments poster in every classroom in the state

  • The lower chamber’s Committee on Public Education stayed at the state Capitol overnight to debate whether such a display would violate the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution or be an attempt to promote Christianity

  • State Rep. Candy Noble, R-Lucas, describes the Ten Commandments and other Christian biblical references as being a fundamental element of America’s founding

The lower chamber’s Committee on Public Education stayed at the state Capitol overnight to debate whether such a display would violate the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution or be an attempt to promote Christianity.

“Is there a separation of church and state in this country?” questioned state Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, during the hearing.

State Rep. Candy Noble, R-Lucas, wouldn’t answer Talarico’s questions about separation of church and state in the Constitution.

“That’s an interesting question that has been debated a great deal,” said Noble.

Noble, who presented Senate Bill 10 in the House, requires public schools to display a Ten Commandments poster in every classroom in the state.

Talarico, a former middle school teacher who is studying to become a pastor, welcomes educational discussion about religion, but he thinks a mandated display would force one religion onto Texas students.

“I’m not interested in micromanaging what posters are put up in classrooms,” said Talarico.

Noble describes the Ten Commandments and other Christian biblical references as being a fundamental element of America’s founding — an assertion which academics debate.

“The way we treat others as a society comes from the principles found in the Ten Commandments in these days of classroom mayhem. It is time to return to the truth,” said Noble.

The text from the six-foot monument of the Ten Commandments that sits on the north side of the Capitol grounds, which was the subject of a lawsuit that went all the way to the Supreme Court, would be replicated onto a smaller poster version for classroom walls.

The version is copied from the Old Testament of the Christian bible.

“I’m curious to know why you’re not willing to say straight out, this is, effort to make sure those kids know God is watching,” said Texas Rep. John Bryant, D-Dallas.

Noble says her objective is for students to understand the country’s foundational principles — which she cites as being the Christian Ten Commandments. The original Ten Commandments come from Jewish Holy Scripture, the Torah, which is why Austin-based Rabbi Eleanor Steinmann wants lawmakers to vote against the proposal she says could alienate other faiths.

“And which translation? The original is in Hebrew. Is it impossible to post the Ten Commandments without choosing a religion and to favor? These tenets of faith have no place in public classrooms,” said Steinman.

State Rep. James Frank, R-Wichita Falls, said Texas schools should reflect that Christianity has been the dominant religion in the United States.

“That doesn’t mean proselytizing. But somewhere there’s a balance between what I think many on one side would do, which is to say we can’t even acknowledge a biblical-based biblical foundation. We can’t talk about it in schools. To me, is extremely dangerous in what we’re getting,” said Frank.

If the committee passes the bill, the House floor would be its last step before going to the governor’s desk for signing, barring any amendments that would send it back to the Senate.