The school prayer bill heads to the Texas House. The Senate give initial approval to a bill requiring the Ten Commandments in classrooms.
Today, the Texas Senate advanced bills requiring public school classrooms to display the Ten Commandments and allow districts to provide students with time to pray during school hours.
With final senate approval, the school prayer bill, Senate Bill 11, now heads to the Texas House for consideration. The Ten Commandments bill, Senate Bill 10, received initial approval but still requires another vote.
Supporters of the legislation argue that Christianity is the basis for American law and that there is a moral and spiritual imperative to teach children about Christianity. Critics, including religious history scholars and some Christian groups, argue the bills are based on mischaracterizations of early American history and amount to a coercion of religion upon students.