Dripping Springs and Comal Parents Sue to Block Ten Commandments – Time to Restore Moral Clarity in Texas Classrooms

Lawsuits filed in federal court are currently blocking implementation of the new law requiring Texas public schools to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms. View the case, Rabbi Nathan v. Alamo Heights ISD HERE, it was brought by a small group of parents from eleven school districts across Texas, including Dripping Springs ISD. In the complaint, one set of parents  are plaintiffs whose children attend public schools in Dripping Springs ISD, and in the case Cribbs Ringer v. Comal Independent School District two parents have children who attend Comal ISD. View the Cribbs Ringer v. Comal Independent School District case HERE. 

A monument with the Ten Commandments sits on the north side of the Texas Capitol.

According to the legal complaint, these parents object to the required version of the Ten Commandments because they believe it represents a specifically Christian interpretation. The lawsuit argues that displaying it in classrooms could “pressure students … into religious observance” and “send the harmful and religiously divisive message that students who do not subscribe to the Ten Commandments, or the specific version S.B. 10 requires, do not belong in their own school community.”

The Ten Commandments teach us to honor our parents, not to steal, not to lie, not to hurt others, and to be thankful for what we have instead of being jealous of what others have. Those are values that help every child, no matter their background or faith, grow into kind, honest, and responsible adults. Teaching right from wrong strengthens our schools and our communities.

The plaintiffs also identify themselves as coming from diverse religious backgrounds, including Jewish, Christian, Hindu, Unitarian Universalist, and nonreligious, and claim the law interferes with their right to direct their children’s religious upbringing. Because of this lawsuit, a federal judge in San Antonio has temporarily halted enforcement of S.B. 10 in the 25 districts involved, including Dripping Springs ISD and Comal ISD. That means, for now, DSISD and CISD schools cannot move forward with posting the Ten Commandments while the case is being decided in court.

Attorney General Ken Paxton issued an advisory directing all Texas Independent School Districts (ISDs) not enjoined by ongoing litigation to display copies of the Ten Commandments once Senate Bill 10 went into effect on September 1, 2025.

“From the beginning, the Ten Commandments have been irrevocably intertwined with America’s legal, moral, and historical heritage,” said Attorney General Paxton. “Schools not enjoined by ongoing litigation must abide by S.B. 10 and display the Ten Commandments. The woke radicals seeking to erase our nation’s history will be defeated. I will not back down from defending the virtues and values that built this country.”

All other ISDs must abide by the law as of September 1, 2025, when the bill went into effect.

Governor Greg Abbott also expressed support for this law, stating, “Faith and freedom are the foundation of our nation. If anyone sues, we’ll win that battle. Just like when I defended the Ten Commandments Monument on Texas Capitol grounds at SCOTUS.” Twenty years ago, as Texas Attorney General, Abbott argued before the U.S. Supreme Court in 2005 to keep the Ten Commandments Monument on display on the Texas State Capitol grounds.

The lawsuits argue that the state’s requirement to display a religious text in all classrooms violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which states that Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, commonly known as the separation of church and state. It further claims that displaying the Ten Commandments in classrooms constitutes an unconstitutional endorsement of religion.

According to KVUE, The parents of the two children in Dripping Springs ISD re raising their children Jewish and said the specific version of the Ten Commandments that will be displayed is contrary to the children’s Jewish teachings. “The displays required under S.B. 10 reference adultery and coveting the wife of one’s neighbor. They do not want their young children’s teachers to explain these topics to them,” the lawsuit states. “The Nordens believe that S.B. 10’s classroom displays will result in religious coercion of their children, who represent a minority faith in their classrooms. Displaying the Christian-centric Ten Commandments prominently in every school will present belief in this version of the Ten Commandments as a widely accepted fact. They are also concerned that the displays will pressure their children to suppress the expression of their Jewish identities in school. Since fewer people are part of the Jewish faith, it may lead them to hide their Judaism to fit in with their classmates.”

“Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife” can be explained to children in a simple way. It means we should not be jealous of someone else’s family or wish we had what they have. Instead, we should be thankful for our own family and show respect for others’ relationships. In other words, it teaches us to be happy for other people, not to take what belongs to them, and not to cheat or be unfaithful. It reminds us to be honest, loyal, and grateful for the blessings in our own lives. It seems clear that some people are just making excuses.

Here is the version of the Ten Commandments that S.B. 10 requires to be posted in each classroom (only that text, nothing extra):

Example of the Ten Commandments posters

The Ten Commandments contain moral principles that extend far beyond any single religion. They form the foundation of our shared moral code and values that have guided civilizations for thousands of years. Nothing is more deeply rooted in the fabric of our American tradition of education and public life than the Ten Commandments. Long before there were volumes of legal statutes, these simple truths taught us right from wrong and shaped the conscience of our nation.

The way we treat others as a society, respecting authority, honoring our parents, valuing honesty, protecting life, and upholding personal responsibility, all stems from these timeless principles. In today’s world, where we see chaos in classrooms, violence in communities, and confusion in the courts, it is time to return to the truth and moral clarity that built this country.

The Ten Commandments teach respect for others, for property, and for the rule of law. They remind us to tell the truth, keep our word, and take responsibility for our actions. These are not just religious values; they are American values, deeply woven into our history, our laws, and our way of life. Reintroducing these moral anchors in our schools is about restoring the moral compass that helps our children grow into responsible citizens and future leaders.

Abby Gibson, Debbie Leimbach and me with one of the 870 posters purchased for our schools

In an ongoing effort to support our local schools, I recently collaborated with Moms for Liberty in both Hays and Comal Counties, along with the wonderful organization 1000 Voices, to obtain and distribute 870 posters displaying the 10 Commandments for our classrooms. I purchased these posters as part of my commitment to strengthening values-based education in our communities.

I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Debbie Leimbach in Comal County and Abby Gibson in Hays County for their leadership, dedication, and teamwork throughout this project. Their passion for serving students truly made this effort possible, and I’m grateful for the energy and care they bring to our community every single day.

Help Restore Moral Clarity in Our Classrooms! You too can play a part in bringing the Ten Commandments back into Texas schools. Through RestoreAmericanSchools.com, donors can sponsor the delivery of 30 classroom posters for just $30. Even if you live outside the area, you can still “adopt a school” in Texas and help make sure our children see the moral foundations that shaped our nation. The website also provides instructions on how to deliver posters, what to do if a school refuses them, and how to file complaints in districts that are not in compliance with state law. Let’s stand together to restore faith, history, and freedom in our schools!

At the end of the day, this issue is about more than a display on a classroom wall. It is about reaffirming the moral and historical foundations of our state and nation. I am proud to have helped pass SB 10! The Ten Commandments remind us that freedom and faith are inseparable and that the values which unite us are stronger than the forces trying to divide us. John Adams is absolutely correct “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” Texas must continue to stand for truth, tradition, and the enduring principles that have guided generations of Americans.