NEW YORK (CWNews.com) – Several states are considering or have passed legislation to post “In God We Trust” in schools in a surge of civil religious expression since September 11.
The motto, which appears on US currency, first appeared on coins in 1864. It was later added to currency in 1955. In 1956, Congress passed a resolution declaring “In God We Trust” the national motto. The motto has withstood three federal court challenges with the latest decision coming from the 10th US Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver in 1996. The US Supreme Court declined to hear the case.
Now advocates say that posting the motto in schools will teach students that true patriotism lies in a reliance on something greater than our nation for it to remain great. “With things that are facing us today, like terrorism, I think we need a pulling-together of this country,” said Clay County, Florida, School Superintendent David Owens, who is already putting up the motto in his schools without waiting for Florida to pass a law. “If putting these mottoes in the schools can help build patriotism, it has served its purpose.”
“It's been tested for its constitutionality in federal court,” said Michigan State Rep. Stephen Ehardt. “It is secular. It's not a religious statement and it's something we should be proud of — it's our national motto.”
The movement was started in Mississippi by the American Family Association and the state passed a law a year ago, before September 11, requiring the motto to be posted in schools. Michigan passed a law in December that makes it clear that the motto can be hung in schools. Florida, Utah, Arizona, Virginia, Louisiana and New Jersey are considering similar legislation, while an “In God We Trust” bill in Indiana died in committee this month.
While the left-wing American Civil Liberties Union has spoken out against the idea in several states, it has admitted that it probably would not win a court challenge.
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