Texas Teachers Resign as Ten Commandments Mandate Sparks Controversy in Schools

Sat Nov 22 2025 07:05:47 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In Texas, a new law mandating the display of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms has led to resignations and heated debates among educators and students, raising questions about the separation of church and state.

The enforcement of a Texas law requiring public schools to display the Ten Commandments has prompted several teachers, like Gigi Cervantes, to resign rather than comply. With ongoing court battles over the law's constitutionality and mixed reactions from students and parents, the issue reflects deeper tensions regarding religious expressions in public education. Teachers express concerns about the impact on non-Christian students, while supporters view the commandments as moral guides.

DALLAS (AP) — The recent implementation of a Texas law requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public school classrooms has forced several educators to resign, including high school theater teacher Gigi Cervantes, who stated, I just was not going to be a part of forcing or imposing religious doctrine onto my students. This state law, seen as the most expansive in the U.S., has drawn serious concerns about violations of the First Amendment's religious liberty provisions.

More than two dozen school districts have already been ordered by federal courts to refrain from posting the commandments due to ongoing legality challenges, including similar laws in Arkansas and Louisiana. The debate around religious representation in schools has intensified, especially as federal courts continue to weigh in on this complex issue.

In the face of this dilemma, many school districts find themselves in challenging positions: funding for posters required by the law, guidance for staff on handling related queries from students, and the implications of religious displays in public education settings headache officials across the state.

Educators like Dustin Parsons have sought to frame the display of the commandments within a historical context, while critics spotlight the potential discomfort it causes non-Christian students. Tension has only escalated, with resignations like that of band director Johnnie Cotton highlighting rising frustrations among educators who feel caught in a ideological crossfire.

Adriana Bonilla, a parent, advocates for the commandments' presence as foundational to respect and responsibility, while others worry about the implications for students belonging to minority faiths in a predominantly Christian framework. The law, supported by many within the Republican Party and the Trump administration, has sparked passionate discussions across Texas educational institutions, generating more questions than answers.

As educators navigate these tricky waters, calls for comprehensive dialogues around such mandates continue, emphasizing a delicate balance between respect for individual beliefs and the principles of inclusivity in public education.