Band director resigns after refusing to hang Ten Commandments in Texas classroom
A former school band director in Texas said he resigned after refusing to post the Ten Commandments in his classroom.
“I believe very strongly that politics and religion have no place in the public schools,” Johnnie Cotton, who worked as the band director at Carthage High School, said in an Oct. 8 Facebook post.
“I spent my 42 years as a teacher and administrator making sure that my classroom/campus stayed neutral on both counts,” Cotton said.
Cotton was informed by school officials that he “must” display the Ten Commandments in accordance with state law, according to the post.
“Seeing this as a line I refuse to cross, I resigned,” Cotton said. “I do not hold Carthage ISD responsible in any way because they had no choice but to enforce the law.”
“Mr. Cotton resigned from his position with Carthage ISD for personal reasons on Monday, Oct. 6,” Carthage Independent School District officials told McClatchy News Oct. 10. “We appreciate his service to our students and community during his time with the district and wish him the best in his future endeavors.”
“I apologize to my staff because of the hardships this inflicts on them and to the students whom I truly love,” Cotton said.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 10 which requires public elementary and secondary schools in the state to display the Ten Commandments “in a conspicuous place in each classroom,” according to the bill.
The bill, which went into effect Sept. 1, also says the “durable poster or framed copy” cannot include any other text and must be at least 16 inches wide and 20 inches tall.
Public schools must “accept any offer of a privately donated” display of the Ten Commandments, provided it meets the requirements outlined in the bill.
This story was originally published October 10, 2025 at 11:05 AM.
