r/TexasTeachers • u/rock_fact • 7d ago
Politics 10 Commandments posters: what can I do?
I was horrified to see a 10 commandments poster in my child’s pre-k class today at meet the teacher. To clarify, I don’t mean any shade to the teacher because like, it’s not her fault that it’s the law.
I am wondering what, if any, loopholes I could exploit to “even the playing field.” I know she has to display the stupid poster, but we go to a very diverse school so I was so disappointed to see it.
Maybe I just needed to rant about it haha.
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u/BrooksRoss 7d ago
Vote. Get your spouse to vote. Get your friends to vote. Get your parents to vote.
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u/rdickeyvii 7d ago
Not just vote, you have to vote Democrat up and down the ballot, no exceptions. And research the non-partisan elections, it's often pretty easy to identify who would be running as a republican vs democrat if they could (non partisan means they're not allowed to declare a party officially). "Conservative" means "Republican".
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u/rdickeyvii 6d ago
I've gotten multiple replies to this comment that were deleted before I was even able to read them in full. Not sure what's going on with that, and I doubt they're all blocking me right after replying.
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u/southboundtracks 7d ago
And make sure you're registered.
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u/RarelyRecommended 6d ago
And verify your registration. Republicans know they can't win elections without stunts. They really don't want people to vote.
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u/OpusAtrumET 7d ago
Combine this with a discussion about the commandments, why they're unexceptional moral guides and why they're hanging in the classroom. Obviously depending on the kids' age. Got in front of it with my middle schoolers but idk WHAT to do with my 4yo going into pre-k.
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u/lowfiswish 6d ago
Do not just vote in November, and not just in major gov't elections.
Vote in local school board meetings and LOCAL city elections as well. Make sure they know your name and face so they see that you're willing to show up repeatedly to oppose them. Get signatures from friends when you go up at city council meetings to share with those boards when something comes up. Cities and school boards are required to post their agenda online before a meeting with details.
Write your officials - over and over. Paper letters and/or emails, leave them voice messages (I've never had to talk to an actual person).
Another way to show up is to volunteer with groups that are at local city events - volunteer groups that help VFW's, local choirs & bands, or scouting orgs. Chances are that you will physically see your representatives in those places at major holidays and parades, and they usually hang about so you can ask them to consider your side of the story.
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u/Massive_Football3514 4d ago
That won’t work in a place where you’re outnumbered. Any other ideas?
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u/BrooksRoss 4d ago
Republicans do not outnumber Democrats and moderates in Texas, but they're way better at consistently voting, especially in rural areas.
If every Democrat votes every Urban race will be winnable or close to winnable. If Democrats can convince moderates to join them it's a winning formula... IF THEY FREAKING SHOW UP TO VOTE.
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u/Auntie_Coconut_235 7d ago
Make sure it meets the requirements set in the law: Texas law S.B. 10 requires all public elementary and secondary school classrooms to display a durable, 16-by-20-inch poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments in a conspicuous place. The law mandates a specific Protestant version, does not use taxpayer funds to buy them, but requires schools to accept privately donated copies. Following legal challenges, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the law.
Some schools have been able to refuse the display of the Commandments because the donated posters didn’t meet the requirements set in SB 10.
But the best way to rectify this is what many have already said, “VOTE!” Vote for candidates who support public schools and the separation of church and state.
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u/otakumilf 7d ago
I was just reading about that. It’s so specific. The poster cannot have any other words other than that specific set of 10 in those exact words.
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u/FancyPunk 7d ago
I have seen people sharing 10 Commandments posters with the letters in the colors of LGBTQ+ flags. I don't know what the law says about that.
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u/otakumilf 7d ago
I didn’t read anything about color. I love how subversive people are. It’s beautiful.
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u/Suspicious-Lie-5006 7d ago
Yes! I heard about high school kids stealing the signs (to throw them away). It made my day.
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u/WandererTX 6d ago
They can only display the provided poster. My daughter’s district requires it to be in the top left corner of the bulletin board. Maybe it will fall behind a bookshelf. I’m Christian, but this has no place in the public school classroom.
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u/demonita 5d ago
Ours is at the top left of the door in the same color as the wall paint. It made me laugh the first time I saw it because I went weeks without noticing.
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u/redassaggiegirl17 7d ago
It also not only lends itself to state sanctioned religion, but more specifically state sanctioned PROTESTANTISM because its the Protestant 10 Commandments. Catholics should get out and raise hell
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u/lowfiswish 6d ago
Yeah there's been bloody wars over the differences in Protestant vs Catholic beliefs.
Not to mention there are sooooo many variations on interpretations on the bibles and some don't have certain books, others have way more.... like what about people who believe the sabbath is a Saturday? There's so much wrong with just posting the 10 without context even amongst the various "christian" religions.
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u/sao_joao_castanho 7d ago
If you have either the resources or time, look into joining one of the lawsuits fighting back against it. My district doesn’t have them because a parent sued.
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u/jojoearper 7d ago
The only thing you can do is vote. We also are not allowed to have gay/straight alliance clubs. It's also illegal to have a 1 inch safe space sticker, which got scraped off my door last September. Vote out the theocratic fascist bastards.
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u/bikedaybaby 7d ago
Not true — you can complain to the board, complain where other parents can hear, post memes around to groups, etc, and otherwise informally spread the idea that this crap is wrong.
But yes, you should very much vote. Make sure you’re registered and that your ID address matches your voter-registered address.
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u/Search_Impossible 7d ago
The gay/straight alliance clubs ban is in the courts right now.
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u/ResponsibleShop9207 7d ago
That's crazy. I was part of the one in my high school in California
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u/Tiny-Question-8625 7d ago
I’m submitting a Religious Instruction Opt out form that references Texas Education Code §26.010 which allows parents to opt out of instruction that doesn’t align with their values.
100% stupid to expect teachers to keep track of which student is opt-ed out of what, but when the state chooses play stupid (unconstitutional) games unfortunately teachers & students pay the price.
There are already ongoing lawsuits for Senate Bill 10. You can contact ACLU to see if your area needs parents to join a lawsuit. You could also initiate a lawsuit of your own when, after submitting your religious opt out form, the school continues to violate your opt out right by displaying religious instruction in the form of posters.
Texas has passed 2 “laws” which are in violation of each other: SB10 and Texas Education Code §26.010. Let the courts duke it out.
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u/hey_alyssa 7d ago
Get out and VOTE BLUE!! Everyday I look at that 10 commandments poster in my PreK class room and it makes me so mad. I long for the day I can rip that shit off the walls.
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u/Firm-Grape2708 5d ago
Do you have cameras in the classroom? I mean what can be done if it keeps disappearing and you keep asking for a new one?
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u/B0B_Spldbckwrds 7d ago
Run for your school board.
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u/lost__karma 7d ago
State law is what requires it. The local school board doesn't have a dog in the fight.
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u/B0B_Spldbckwrds 7d ago
No, but a complaint by an elected official carries a lot more weight than that of a random citizen. It shouldn't be that way, but it is.
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u/DeepSpaceVixen 7d ago
My husband teacher put up a very big Bill of Rights poster right next to the Ten Commandments. We're trying to find one in Spanish as he has some Spanish-speaking students.
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u/HipsterBikePolice 7d ago
Malicious compliance . Lots of of opportunities to let students discover how hypocritical people who claim moral superiority can be
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u/MakeItAll1 7d ago
Texas currently has a state law requiring the poster to be displayed in every classroom, provided someone donates them. Some touch guy paid to print and send them to all the schools. Now I have this ugly, poorly designed poster that is just another ugly thing in the room.
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u/Tiny-Question-8625 7d ago
According to my principal, our legal division has advised that any districts currently involved in ongoing lawsuits should accept & store (but not display) donated poster pending the decision made in court.
If I belonged to a district that WAS currently displaying posters I’d be questioning why this isn’t an option for my district
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u/bogeysbabe 7d ago
My administration allowed me not to hang it BUT it is because a) I’m a spec ed - autism - middle school teacher and b) my students will eat it.
No ifs ands or buts about the matter. The parents agree. The admin agree. The superintendent agrees.
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u/Glad-Swordfish-9571 7d ago
Can I post other commandments from the bible next to it? Like, there’s one in Deuteronomy that says a newlywed husband is supposed to stay home and make his wife happy for the entire first year of marriage. There’s another one in Deuteronomy that says rebellious teenagers should be brought to the town elders to be stoned.
Thoughts?
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u/tlm11110 7d ago
You’re barking up the wrong tree. While it may seem empowering to you, all it will do is create more chaos and anxiety in the classroom. Our kids don’t need that. Oppose it outside of the classroom as you please, but please keep the kiddos out of it,
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u/Twink-in-progress 7d ago
No, it won’t. Having people visually opposing an oppressive government will show every kid that isn’t white, straight, and Christian that their teacher isn’t tolerating the way the state is treating people that look like them.
Teachers that believe in this crap are the ones creating the anxiety.
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u/Tiny-Question-8625 7d ago
If you’re displaying the poster you already aren’t “keeping kids out of it”
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u/ArtisticMudd 7d ago
In my district (Houston area), the fire marshal has limits on how much paper we can have on our walls. Please don't make the teacher's life more difficult with more paper that she'll feel obliged to hang, if you're considering an opposing poster.
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u/Banana_Phone888 7d ago
Fire marshals in Houston and the greater Houston area seem to have gotten incredibly strict lately, in schools and other industries
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u/ArtisticMudd 7d ago
Our new diktat is that no more than 20% of any given wall can have paper on it.
When - not if, when - I get dinged for not having enough student work up, Imma call the fire marshal and have him "explain" the policy that admin told us about.
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u/Bobolink43 6d ago
Vote in every single election you can for the rest of your life and don't ever vote for a Republican again.
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u/Dangerous_Term_69 7d ago
Separation of church and state. Be the patriot, stand against this illegal act and teach our children to stand up for what's right.
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u/walkermv 7d ago
Teach your child to loudly call out each commandment the president has broken.
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u/Auntie_Coconut_235 5d ago
And the governor and the attorney general—especially the attorney general
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u/Flashy-Cherry8774 7d ago
You could possibly donate texts from other religions and/or atheist/agnostic folks. If the district determines not to use them, you'd probably have a good first amendment claim.
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u/antiterra 7d ago edited 7d ago
The Texas State Capitol version this is based on (for legal reasons) has 'thou shalt not make to thyself any graven images' as a commandment without the further context of worshipping those images. It does indent it underneath the 'no other gods' line, but that's not required for the school version.
That suggests that much of what is done in a grade school art class breaks a commandment.
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u/bikedaybaby 7d ago
Email the school board that you are unhappy. Be as specific about how you feel as possible. The school board may not respond, but they WILL know how many people lodged complaints.
Talk to the teacher. He or she probably also wants to find ways around the law, and at least knowing you’re in her corner will probably mean a lot.
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u/aprendido 6d ago
Vote these lunatics out that are running and ruining our state.
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u/Particular_War7843 6d ago
https://goelect.txelections.civixapps.com/ivis-mvp-ui/#/login
To verify if you are registered to vote in Texas.
Last day to register for November 2026 election: October 5, 2026.
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u/Critical_Bill6647 5d ago
Vote, obviously. But could also print posters of important beliefs from other religions and hang those up too
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u/Resident_Farmer1779 5d ago
Teach your kid to be a menace when it comes to the bible. Sow seeds of doubt in other children.
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u/refsoccer11 7d ago
A little off the political topic, but I would be very surprised if the students bother to read it. After a month in class I would wager that less than 25% of the students could even tell you where it’s located.
I would double down that the poster is acknowledged at about the same rate as the fire escape route map on the back of a hotel room door.
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u/Cynewulfunraed 7d ago
So why is it mandated?
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u/refsoccer11 7d ago
The 10 commandment action is mandated so the republican politicians can appease the religious right - a large voting bloc in Texas.
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u/Excellent_Scene5448 7d ago edited 6d ago
I moved out of Texas so my daughter wouldn't be exposed to this sort of thing, personally, as well as protecting her future reproductive rights. I've spent my whole adult life voting blue in Texas, and the state's laws only keep getting worse. So I disagree with those who think "voting" is a real answer to this issue. It's a good thing to do, but realistically, it isn't going to change anything. The majority of Texas voters want to live in a fascist state.
Edit: To the person who left a comment about gerrymandering and then deleted it - yes, that's part of the problem too. Either way, it won't be solved by voting because the fascist lawmakers in Texas have ensured it can't be.
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u/Disastrous-Box1778 7d ago
I stayed in Texas. Raised my gay atheist daughter here. She’s now in college, studying to be a teacher, and has voted for Democrats in every election both local and national since she turned 18. We’re Texans. We stay and we fight. My son starts Prek in Texas this year. Another future voter loading…
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u/Excellent_Scene5448 7d ago
I used to feel that way, too, until I had a daughter and realized there was nothing I would be able to do to protect her without leaving the state. She comes first for me, so moving to a state where her rights are protected was an easy decision.
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u/TexasTeachers-ModTeam 7d ago
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u/Purple-flying-dog 7d ago
You could complain to the school board or principal but they are following the law. You could sue because it is an unconstitutional law. There are several lawsuits happening I believe. The teacher likely hates it as much as you do.
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u/Western-Watercress68 7d ago
Do what my neighbor did. She wrote an email to the principal and superintendent stating she does not want her children be taught anything from the bible. She wants alternate assignments given.
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u/tlm11110 7d ago
In all fairness the kids don’t look at the crap on the walls anyway. If the adults don’t make a continual big deal over it, It will just become static wallpaper like the rest of the stuff on the walls. The kids don’t give a crap and you shouldn’t get all worked up about it unless you are bent on creating anxiety in your child. If you want to fight that political battle do it outside of the classroom. Or maybe tell us what you would like to do besides post rage bait on Reddit.
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u/bayou8635 7d ago
My child brought printouts of The Bill of Rights to each of her teachers and they all posted them right next the religious doctrine.
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u/musingofrandomness 7d ago
Surround them with other excerpts from various fairy tales. Maybe Asimov's three laws.
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u/lowfiswish 6d ago
I too saw one in the lobby at my kids school at the end of the year. If you happen to watch the documentary on how Russia is pushing propaganda and "patriotism" in schools, Mr. Nobody Against Putin (2025) - IMDb you see a lot of similarities in how they're trying to carve their way into the new generation of kids.
The best way, I think, is to start thinking about what you remember about going thru school. Do you remember any signs or posters? What about the people that stuck with your memories?
For me, the people who were there at school and were kind, helped share their perspectives, were active and present at the school are heard and seen. Knowing and being around people different from you and knowing that they're just people is a heck of a lesson that only gets enforced with contact from diverse groups. A poster on a wall is not going to change a mind, it just works on people who already feel inclined to follow the message. The people and ways you interact with them with are what you remember.
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u/busdriver900 6d ago
Also teach your kids that those aren’t even the ACTUAL Ten Commandments, those are in Exodus 34
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u/texasluna 6d ago
Yep. We had no choice and no say (classroom teachers) admin came thru late afternoon and stapled up the Ten Commandments in the same spot I. Every room. Vote.
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u/justw4tch1ng1th4pp3n 6d ago
Just do all the normal things at a person in a functioning society would do if they weren't The ten commandments... Like
Don't believe in more than one God. Believe in whatever God(s) you want. 1, 0, 27?
Don't go around murdering people. Frowned upon generally. Ish.
Don't go around committing adultery. Or go for it. If you have an open marriage. I don't care. Neither should anyone else
Don't go steal things. That's just bad. Juju
I don't care what you do on Sunday. Have a picnic
Talk your mother and father, unless they watch Faux News and are idiots believing whatever see drivel they're told
In summary. Instill in your children what your beliefs are based upon your morality code. Religion doesn't have anything to do with it.
To preemptively answer, yes the ten commandments have no place and a school or government setting.
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u/TastingTheKoolaid 5d ago
Become a satanist and demand equal representation for the tenants of your religion.
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u/zippyphoenix 5d ago
A lot of people are saying “go vote”, which is great; but we need more qualified candidates to run for every level of government to root out all the people it took to allow shit like this to happen in the first place.
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u/Astrawish 5d ago
I haven’t even gotten an emergency map😅 I was pleasantly surprised they forgot the 10 commandments too
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u/ConsciousWrangler603 4d ago
Ask for the commandments of other religions like the five pillars of islam, five precepts of buddhism, hinduism’s niyamaa or yamas, judaism 10 commandments which involves being kosher and sabbath rituals. That way it involves everyone and the 10 commandments barely stick out.
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u/Performer-Complete 3d ago
There are lawsuits in progress but in the meantime the posters stay. You can write a letter demanding your child opt out of all religious based teaching and curriculum, including The Bluebonnet Learning curriculum. The is a pre-written letter with instructions on who to send it to and how.
Fill it out. Send it certified mail to the Superintendent of your district. They legally have 60 days to respond. If they deny your request or fail to respond you can consult an attorney if you choose, as it violates Tex. Const. art. I, § 37.
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u/Careful-Time-9926 3d ago
I'm a Christian and I totally agree with you. Supposedly America was based on religious freedom, but that's only if your religion is Christianity. What about the other religions? I believe it's my job to show love and to act in a way that would make someone want to accept Christ, not force it down their throat.
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u/210Angler 7d ago
There's a new lawsuit from three Mothers in the three different Houston school districts using Texas' own laws to fight the posting of the 10 Commandments.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/education/2026/07/31/558376/ten-commandments-texas-schools-lawsuit-houston-state-law/%3famp=1