North Texas mom starts petition over Ten Commandment posters in classrooms
A Bedford mom is pushing back on a state law that requires school districts to display posters listing the Ten Commandments in every classroom.
Chelesa Wright posted her concerns on Facebook and launched a petition Wednesday asking the Hurst-Euless-Bedford district to pause displaying the Ten Commandments. She is concerned that other school districts, including Fort Worth, Arlington and Mansfield, are facing lawsuits and that the posters could violate the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause which prohibits the government from establishing an official religion and emphasizing one religion over another.
As of Thursday afternoon, Wright said she has 67 signatures.
“I was raised in a Christian environment,” she said. “My family is Mormon, and my husband is Catholic,” Wright said.
“I stress to my children that religion is personal, and everyone has their own beliefs. We never tell anyone that they are wrong.”
Wright said she learned of the Ten Commandments posters when she received an email from the school district informing the parents that state law requires school districts to display the Ten Commandments.
Deanne Hullender, a spokesperson for the district, said 23,000 emails were sent to parents and guardians to inform them about the posters.
“School districts have no choice. We have to follow the law,” she said.
Hullender also sent an email to the Star-Telegram which said in part, “We are committed to supporting a welcoming environment for all students, led by the daily care and respect expressed by our teachers and staff.
“HEB ISD always aims to support parents and families as their child’s first and most important teachers.”
Senate Bill 10 requires school districts to accept donations of posters of the Ten Commandments and to display them in all classrooms.
The school district received a donation of the posters from Cheryl Bean, a Republican candidate for House District 94.
Wright said she is meeting with Superintendent Joe Harrington on Tuesday to discuss her concerns and will attend the next school board meeting on Oct. 20.
Wright said she is concerned that the state is pushing a specific religion by requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed.
If parents think their children should believe in a certain way, there are private schools, Wright said.
“This feels invasive of your rights and of your personal and sacred beliefs,” she said. “Teachers are having a hard enough time, to add politics and religion is just uncalled for.”