An Arkansas law requiring Ten Commandments displays in all public-school classrooms is unconstitutional because its sole intent is to convert students to Christianity, a federal court has ruled. “Act 573’s purpose is only to display a sacred, religious text in…
Only 15 Texas districts opt in for prayer and Bible reading
All but 15 of more than 1,200 Texas school districts and charters rejected a state law that encourages students and staff to pray and read the Bible during the school day, The Texas Tribune reported. Religious liberty advocates described the…
Mohler praises Trump for ‘moral clarity’ in State of the Union
Southern Baptist thought leader Al Mohler agrees with President Donald Trump that Democrats are “crazy.” The president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary used his Feb. 25 column in World magazine to say the president’s rambling two-hour State of the Union…
Administration concedes defeat in removing DEI from schools
The Trump administration has conceded defeat in its effort to force public school districts to abandon civil rights protections and diversity, equity and inclusion programs that benefit students. The victory came Jan. 21 when the U.S. Department of Education filed…
When book bans enter the classroom, students lose
On a recent trip to my public library, as I was scanning my books, a young boy next to me asked the librarian behind the desk how many books our library branch has. The answer was in the tens of…
Texas Public Schools Are Being Sued For Not Displaying The 10 Commandments
Schools are being forced to weigh whether to follow Texas law or the U.S. Constitution.
Ten Commandments displays blocked again by court order
A federal judge has ordered 14 Texas school districts to remove Ten Commandments displays from classrooms by Dec. 1 and barred them from posting any new copies pending the outcome of litigation. The Nov. 18 preliminary injunction stems from a…
Embattled Oklahoma schools chief leaving post
Ryan Walters will step down as the superintendent of Oklahoma public schools Oct. 1 to lead a conservative organization founded to oppose teachers’ unions and “the liberal, woke agenda” he claims is polluting American education and values. “For decades, union…
14 more Texas districts sued over Ten Commandments
An additional 14 Texas public school systems are being sued to stop them from installing classroom Ten Commandments displays mandated by the state. A coalition of civil rights groups filed a federal complaint Sept. 22 against the Arlington, Azle, Comal,…
Prof reviews proper and improper uses of Bible in public schools
The Bible has not been banned from public schools, but there are appropriate and inappropriate ways to use it there, a professor told a summit on religion and public education Sept. 16. Mark Chancey, professor of religious studies at Southern…
Interfaith work called key to preserving religious liberty in public education
“Interfaith work is at the center of the work to save this country,” Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum told a summit on religious freedom in public schools Sept. 15. Kleinbaum, senior rabbi emerita at Congregation Beit Simchat Torah in New York City,…
To fight for democracy, act locally, Perryman advises
The way to win in the global fight for democracy is to think locally, according to Skye Perryman, president of Democracy Forward. In a keynote address to a summit on religious freedom in public schools held in Dallas Sept. 15,…