Court Order Forces McAllen ISD to Act
McAllen Independent School District (ISD) in South Texas has removed classroom displays of the Ten Commandments after receiving a federal court order. The order stems from a lawsuit filed by parents across more than two dozen Texas districts challenging a new state law. Senate Bill 10, passed in the summer, mandates that the Ten Commandments be displayed “in a conspicuous place” in all public school classrooms.
Parent Lawsuit Raises Religious Freedom Concerns
The lawsuit includes McAllen parent Maribel Villarreal, who identifies as an Atheist and Humanist. Villarreal argues that the required displays infringe on her parental rights and harm her children emotionally by making them feel excluded for their nonreligious upbringing. Her legal team claims that the commandments force inappropriate conversations and send a damaging message that non-Christian children are “outsiders” in their school environment.
District Seeks Dismissal, Cites Constitutionality
McAllen ISD had already sought dismissal from the lawsuit in late October, arguing that it displayed the commandments only to comply with state law. The district stated that the constitutionality of Senate Bill 10 is a matter for courts to decide. In response, U.S. District Judge Orlando L. Garcia granted the dismissal request on October 30 but required the district to comply with all future rulings.
Lawmakers Split on Senate Bill 10
Senate Bill 10 passed along party lines, but two Rio Grande Valley Democrats broke ranks to support it. Most other Valley Democrats, including McAllen’s representative R.D. “Bobby” Guerra, opposed the bill. The law took effect on September 1, prompting widespread pushback and legal action from parents concerned about religious neutrality in public education.
Broader Legal Battles Across Texas
Meanwhile, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed lawsuits against Round Rock ISD and Leander ISD for failing to comply with the law. His office emphasized that both districts received donated Ten Commandments displays, yet failed to post them. These cases mark the expanding legal fight over SB 10 as districts weigh religious rights against constitutional concerns.
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South Texas school district ordered to remove Ten Commandments
Photo by Joshua Case on Unsplash
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