Louisiana Teacher Asks SCOTUS to Stop Ten Commandments Displays in Classrooms
'The state cannot turn my classroom into a place to deliver its own religious message or make me the messenger who delivers it,' said Louisianas鈥檚 Teacher of the Year for 2020
;)
Education news and commentary, delivered right to your inbox.
Sign up for 社区黑料 newsletter.
Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for 社区黑料 Newsletter
A Louisiana teacher is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to hear his constitutional challenge to a state law that requires the Ten Commandments to be posted in K-12 and college classrooms.
The posters began going up in classrooms this summer, following the approval of a 2024 law requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in every K-12, college and university classroom at schools that accept state money. The law was mired in a legal battle until earlier this year, when the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals .
Chris Dier, Louisianas鈥檚 Teacher of the Year for 2020, filed the motion asking for the Supreme Court to intervene. Dier taught at Chalmette High School when he won the honor and is currently on the faculty at Ben Franklin High School in New Orleans.
鈥淚 have spent over 16 years teaching my students that the Constitution protects every one of them 鈥� every faith, and no faith,鈥� Dier said. 鈥淚 respect the Ten Commandments and the place religion holds in millions of Americans鈥� lives, undoubtedly. But the state cannot turn my classroom into a place to deliver its own religious message or make me the messenger who delivers it.鈥�
In a statement through her spokesman, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill declined to address Dier鈥檚 petition but said schools should follow the law.
Following Louisiana鈥檚 lead, similar measures requiring Ten Commandments displays were adopted in Texas, Alabama, Tennessee and Arkansas, which have been met with various legal challenges.
Those challenging the law in Texas have already asked the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene, with Louisiana asking for its law to be reviewed separately from the Texas case.
is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Louisiana Illuminator maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Greg LaRose for questions: [email protected].
Did you use this article in your work?
We鈥檇 love to hear how 社区黑料鈥檚 reporting is helping educators, researchers, and policymakers.