Pennsylvania lawmaker proposes requiring Ten Commandments display in public schools

A new Pennsylvania bill would require the Ten Commandments, along with other historic documents, to be displayed in the state’s public schools.

Republican state Sen. Doug Mastriano, who gained national prominence when he ran for governor in 2022, proposed the Creation of Law in Our Schools Act. The bill would require the Ten Commandments, the Declaration of Independence, the Pennsylvania Constitution and the U.S. Constitution to be displayed. 

“A nation that does not know its history is doomed to lose its identity,” Mastriano said in a statement, citing a recent survey finding only 47% of Americans can name all three branches of government, while 20% can’t name even one branch. 

“By ensuring that our students see and engage with these bedrock documents, we will instill in them a greater appreciation of law, responsibility and the sacrifices made to build this great nation.” 

Mastriano’s effort comes as a similar Louisiana measure has been tied up in the courts for months, as The Lion has reported, while a federal appeals court is weighing its constitutionality. 

Last year, Louisiana became the first state in decades to require the Ten Commandments be displayed, but the state was sued nearly immediately as opponents argued it violates the separation of church and state and forces religious beliefs on students. 

The groups suing Louisiana, including the American Civil Liberties Union, said the law would coerce students into religious observance, in violation of the First Amendment. 

“Public schools are not Sunday Schools,” ACLU’s Louisiana executive director said in a statement.  

Louisiana’s first-of-its-kind legislation sparked a flurry of similar efforts in other states, and more than a dozen states have come out publicly to support Louisiana as it fights its way through the courts. 

Supporters have argued displaying the Ten Commandments is a way to educate students about the country’s legal traditions.  

Mastriano said his proposed bill would help to “restore historical knowledge, promote civic responsibility and preserve our heritage.” He adds the bill aims to ensure every Pennsylvania student grows up understanding the “laws, rights, and freedoms” that define Americans.  

“With the passage of my bill, Pennsylvania would take a unique and comprehensive approach by ensuring that students engage with all four foundational documents that shaped our commonwealth and our nation. This is not just about teaching history – it is about preserving the very principles that make America great.” 

As Louisiana’s Ten Commandments law awaits a court ruling, and other state measures face similar legal threats, President Donald Trump has expressed support for displaying the historic text in classrooms.  

In a Truth Social post about Louisiana’s effort, Trump wrote that he loved the Ten Commandments being in public schools, private schools and “many other places.” 

“HOW CAN WE, AS A NATION, GO WRONG???,” he wrote. “THIS MAY BE, IN FACT, THE FIRST MAJOR STEP IN THE REVIVAL OF RELIGION, WHICH IS DESPERATELY NEEDED, IN OUR COUNTRY. BRING BACK TTC!!