Left: Rafael Henrique / stock.adobe.com | Right: Adobe Stock

A federal judge blocked the recently-passed Texas law that required the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public school classrooms. Known as SB 10, the judge stated the law “impermissibly takes sides” on issues of religion. The injunction only applies to school districts named by families in the lawsuit; however, those districts are some of the largest districts in the state. The new law is set to take effect on September 1.

The Texas American Federation of Teachers (AFT), which represents some 66,000 educators and paraprofessionals, celebrated the ruling. “Every Texas child, regardless of their religion, deserves the right to a quality education in a safe and affirming classroom,” said Zeph Capo, president of Texas AFT. “That’s the promise of our public schools, and lately, the Texas Legislature chips away at it every time lawmakers come to Austin. Texas has ushered in an unprecedented attack on religious freedom, backed by extremist megadonors with deep pockets and a distaste for separation of church and state. This law is plainly unconstitutional, just like it was when they tried it in Louisiana. All lawmakers have accomplished here is mass confusion for schools and teachers right at the start of the school year.”

A Reddit thread for Texas teachers also celebrated the move. One user wrote, “If they want to have the 10 commandments in their kids’ classrooms, send them to private school! There’s a voucher system now you greedy idiots.” “I don’t think I can physically bring myself to hang up that poster. I have many Hindu and Muslim students, and I’m so scared that they will feel hurt or wrong for what they believe in. This law is beyond illegal. Compliance is how it passed to begin with, and compliance is how it will stay a law,” said another user. Several others thanked Satan.

In another thread some months prior to the injunction, teachers were encouraging one another to hang up posters with the 7 tenets of the Temple of Satan. Others chimed in with their own alternatives, including the 5 Pillars of Islam, the Jedi code, and the 8-Fold Path of Buddhism. One user, who identified as a Satanist, cautioned the others. “I get it. The idea of using Satanism as a ‘gotcha’ is funny,” wrote the user. “But it’s also just not going to get you anywhere but, well, fired. If this is the hill you want to die on, go ahead, I guess.”

More from Beliefnet and our partners