Bill filed to display Ten Commandments in public school classrooms

OKLAHOMA CITY — Rep. Jim Olsen, R-Roland, has filed legislation to require the Ten Commandments be displayed in all public school classrooms.

House Bill 2962, filed Friday, would require each classroom to clearly display a poster or framed copy of the Ten Commandments, measuring at least 16 inches wide and 20 inches tall, beginning in the 2024-2025 school year. The bill also outlines the specific text to be used for the display.

“The Ten Commandments is one of the foundations of our nation,” Olsen said. “Publicly and proudly displaying them in public school classrooms will serve as a reminder of the ethics of our state and country as students and teachers go about their day. It is my prayer that this display would inspire our young people during their formative years and encourage them to lead moral, principled lives.”

Olsen said the Ten Commandments was referenced by the Founding Fathers as a code of morality and was taught in public schools for hundreds of years. Early textbooks like the New England Primer, first published in 1687, and the McGuffey Readers, first published in 1836, were widely used and included teachings of the Ten Commandments.

HB2962 is available to be heard after the legislative session begins Feb. 5.