The Constitution has been the forefront of American law. This document has been used to outline our rights as citizens, justify Supreme Court decisions, and shape American legal and government frameworks. Our first amendment rights are most notable and known, with citizens granted the freedom of speech, press, religion, etc. Today, we’ll be focusing on the freedom of religion, specifically the Establishment Clause within the First Amendment, stating that no official national/state religion can be established. However, a recent controversy has come.
Recently, all Oklahoma and Louisiana public schools are now required to incorporate the Bible and the Ten Commandments in their curriculums, effective immediately.
In past Supreme Court cases like Engel v. Vitale (1962), school-sponsored prayers were deemed unconstitutional in violation of the Establishment Clause. Many opponents of this recent decision of Louisiana and Oklahoma cite this as evidence that mandating Bible lessons in public schools is another Constitutional violation. A group of Louisiana parents and civil rights organizations are suing the state over the new law, arguing that true religious freedom means no one religion imposes their views on all Americans.
Proponents, such as the state’s chief education officer, argue that the Bible is a foundational document from the birth of this country. They believe that it is necessary to teach kids of our history, with the Bible being an influential part of that history.
With this creating much controversy, it is likely that this case will be brought to the Supreme Court, where they’ll decide the constitutionality of Oklahoma and Louisiana’s laws. Since the Supreme Court is the ‘supreme’ law of the land, this is the best public policy that can be made to this situation. It is plausible that they could follow precedent case like Engel v. Vitale, but it is not certain. Time will have to tell the fate of these mandatory lessons.
Ayan Kumar's Blog 