The Texas Prayer Debate—Freedom and Choice in the Classroom

Children praying in the classroom.

Teresa Lusk

Political Commentator & Independent Journalist

During its 89th session, the Texas Legislature prioritized securing and enforcing the right to religious participation and accommodations on school grounds for students and staff. School boards are now authorized to create blocks of time where students and school personnel can participate in religious activity during school hours.

“The board of trustees of a school district or the governing body of an open-enrollment charter school that is not operated by or affiliated with a religious organization may, by record vote on a resolution described by Subsection (a-1), adopt a policy requiring every campus of the district or school to provide students and employees with an opportunity to participate in a period of prayer and reading of the Bible or other religious text on each school day in accordance with this section” (Tex. Educ. Code §25.0823, 2025).

But this landmark movement is not being welcomed by all. Critics feel this precedent-setting measure could open the door to coercion and pressure. Students might feel compelled to participate in religious practices on school grounds that they would not have considered before. Religion has become a point of contention for those who misinterpret the Constitution—a trend visible in American classrooms, workplaces, social media, and even government agencies. The First Amendment states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof” (U.S. Const. amend. I, 1789). Some argue that the prohibiting clause is being misinterpreted in ways that exceed previous limits within American society.

A reflection of this sentiment can be found in the ACLU’s statement: “Promoting religious practice in public schools is a blatant violation of the First Amendment and an abuse of government power. S.B. 11 could lead to religious coercion or exclusion by pressuring students to participate in religious activities they may not believe in, just to avoid being left out or bullied” (ACLU of Texas, 2025b). Enforcing this already existing law is no different than posting the non-discrimination clause printed on every legal document. More importantly, the absence of clear religious protections from the state already creates a potential violation of the First Amendment. At the same time, it excludes students who do want to participate in religious activities during their school day. Why should a religious student or staff member be forced to forgo practicing their faith through avenues granted by the law and enacted by a school board if a child and their family choose to do so?

Like the ACLU, Texas Freedom Network echoed a similar statement: “…This should ring alarm bells for every Texan who values religious freedom and the right of families to make their own choices about faith. SB 11 violates those freedoms” (Texas Freedom Network, 2025). Bells now echo on behalf of students and staff who have long feared expressing their faith. Supporters of this new legislation argue that the government has placed too much power in silencing religious expression while strongly promoting other civil liberties, such as race, sex, gender identity, and other protected statuses—excluding faith, especially when it holds opposing moral convictions.

The law goes on to state: “Texas law allows students and staff to participate in a daily prayer or religious reading period only with a signed consent form, which makes participation voluntary, requires acknowledgment of no objection, includes a legal waiver, and remains in effect even if consent is later revoked” (Tex. Educ. Code §25.0823, 2025). The text expresses the opportunity to participate in the reading of the Bible or other religious text with consent.

So, what really is the battle against securing and making a way for religious opportunities for staff and students within the school systems? Is this law not a blanket statute for individuals of all faiths, including Christians, Muslims, Hindus, and other religious backgrounds? Are some schools not already making concessions for students who practice prayer throughout the day because, for some, it is required by their religion to pray often? Texas has recognized that, without passing legislation to protect all faiths and practices within the spaces where children spend the majority of their hours, schools may continue to lose the right to live out their religious convictions, even at school.

To trace the origins of this movement, we must examine history, particularly the Obama administration. The President's policies directly affected religious organizations and schools nationwide, including in conservative states such as Texas. Religious employers were required to provide contraception, federal actions promoted same-sex marriage, and schools were mandated to allow female students to share bathrooms with transgender students. These policies conflicted with the beliefs of many Christians, Jewish people, and Muslims, leading to widespread legal and political disputes (Heritage Foundation, 2014; Obama White House Archives, 2012; U.S. Department of Education, 2016).

These strong-handed undertakings greatly redefined what many Americans believed the US Constitution meant by protecting religious liberty. Opponents of Christianity—and occasionally other religious backgrounds—adopted one half of the First Amendment, the part that protects us from coercion of religion through government.

Texas lawmakers have an opportunity to clarify and reinforce protections for students and staff of all faiths, ensuring that the state honors its constitutional obligations while allowing individuals to practice their religion freely. The conversation over S.B. 11 is part of a larger national dialogue about the intersection of government, education, and personal belief—a debate that will continue to evolve in classrooms, boardrooms, and communities across the country.

Resources

ACLU of Texas. (2025a). Texas families sue to block law requiring Ten Commandments in every public school classroom. ACLU Texas. https://www.aclutx.org/en/press-releases/texas-families-sue-block-law-requiring-ten-commandments-every-public-school-classroom

ACLU of Texas. (2025b). ACLU Texas comments on passage of S.B. 11, bill forcing Christian prayer in public schools. ACLU Texas. https://www.aclutx.org/en/press-releases/aclu-texas-comments-passage-sb-11-bill-forcing-christian-prayer-public-schools

Fixler, J. (2025). Statement on Ten Commandments in Texas classrooms. Texas Legislature Public Comments. https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/publiccomments/billhistory/SB00010H.pdf

Texas Freedom Network. (2025). SB 11 school prayer bill pending. Texas Freedom Network. https://tfn.org/sb-11-school-prayer-bill-pending

U.S. Const. amend. I. (1789).

Heritage Foundation. (2014). Obama v. Religious Liberty: How legal challenges to the HHS contraceptive mandate unfolded. https://www.heritage.org/health-care-reform/report/obama-v-religious-liberty-how-legal-challenges-the-hhs-contraceptive

Obama White House Archives. (2012, May 10). Obama supports same-sex marriage. https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/blog/2012/05/10/obama-supports-same-sex-marriage

U.S. Department of Education. (2016, May 13). Dear Colleague Letter on Transgender Students and Title IX. https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-201604-title-ix-transgender.pdf

#TVHost #MediaCommentary #JournalismMatters #NewsAnalysis #PoliticalCommentary #ReligiousFreedom #FaithInSchools #PublicPolicy #EducationDebate #TeresaLusk #WomenInMedia #ThoughtLeader #NewsroomTeresaLusk #FoxNews #Newsmax #ScrippsNews #CNN #MSNBC #TuckerCarlson #BretBaier #LauraIngraham #MegynKelly #ChrisCuomo