'In God We Trust' going up at South Dakota public schools

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Updated 12:25 pm CDT, Wednesday, July 24, 2019



Photo: Adam Fondren, AP
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This July 23, 2019 photo shows "In God We Trust" stenciled in a wall at South Park Elementary in Rapid City, S.D. When students return to public schools across South Dakota this fall there should be a new message displayed in a common area, a cafeteria, entryway or other prominent location. A new state law that took effect this month requires all public schools in the state's 149 districts to paint, stencil or otherwise display the national motto "In God We Trust." The South Dakota lawmakers who proposed the law said the requirement was meant to inspire patriotism in the state's public schools. (Adam Fondren/Rapid City Journal via AP)

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — When students return to public schools across South Dakota this fall, they should expect to see a new message on display: "In God We Trust."

A new state law that took effect this month requires all public schools in the state's 149 districts to paint, stencil or otherwise prominently display the national motto.

The South Dakota lawmakers who proposed the law said the requirement was meant to inspire patriotism in the state's public schools. Displays must be at least 12-by-12 inches and must be approved by the school's principal, according to the law.

Associated School Boards of South Dakota executive director Wade Pogany said schools are complying with the law in different ways.

"Some have plaques. Other have it painted on the wall, maybe in a mural setting," Pogany said. In one school "it was within their freedom wall. They added that to a patriotic theme."

The Freedom From Religion Foundation, based in Madison, Wisconsin, which has legally challenged the motto's inclusion on U.S. currency, alerted its South Dakota members to contact their legislators to express opposition to the law.

"Our position is that it's a terrible violation of freedom of conscience to inflict a godly message on a captive audience of school children," foundation co-president Annie Laurie Gaylor said Wednesday.

Read more: https://www.chron.com/news/education/article/In-God-We-Trust-displayed-at-Rapid-City-public-14118947.php

[rockfordfile]

1. If that's a public school, then it should be stopped.

[trev]

2. How does a religious declaration

"inspire patriotism?"

[hatrack]

3. It doesn't - but it sure keeps kids from expressing those pesky "thoughts", doesn't it?

And soon, South Dakota test scores will soar, teen pregnancy will vanish and incidents of beatings and bullying will drop to zero.

[forgotmylogin]

14. Because they want you to feel so patriotic while climbing over the rubble of the wall between church

and state.

[LiberalLovinLug]

26. In fact it could be argued that it supresses patriotism

As the slogan would only inspire any Christian students. Because we all know that the "God" they are talking about is the evangelical Christian God. Even if they would be the majority, it would still give a message to other faiths, and agnostic and atheist students that this school which is government funded, adheres to this one religious faith to the point they painted it on the freakin walls! It would be discouraging for any non-Christian student to see how their school was implying that the government who represented the country they were supposed to be patriotic about, was strictly a Christian government.

[SweepPicker]

4. Glad I Visited SD Last Year

because I won't be going back

[Tech]

5. I trust that who ever thought this was a good idea will be going to hell.

[Wellstone ruled]

6. Big win for the

Apostolic movement in the Eastern Counties of South Dakota in which the Governor and her family are major leaders.

[Maraya1969]

7. Keep it up you idiots. At some point in the future your great grandkids are going to be

forced to face Mecca and pray to Allah every day since Islam is the fastest growing religion in the country and eventually will become the #1 religion.

Then again I think they may be a bit less controlling than you and decide just to stop all forced religious activity in public schools.

[lunasun]

8. But they are already convinced of your prediction & that they will be forced into sharia law

I think that stuff like the motto now required in all public schools is part of the pushback on the exact same thoughts about the future in S.D.
Could hyperaccelerate to a christofacism movement somewhere probably in flyover areas where there is in reality little chance of Islam becoming the major religion

[maxsolomon]

27. Yeah, that day is a long way off.

Atheism is growing too. That's why they're panicking and passing these bullshit laws. They're scared that God is dead.

[fierywoman]

9. Hmmm, given the times, it makes me think of Jean Shepard's

"In God we trust, all others pay cash."

[bluestarone]

10. Well now this kinda opens the door to

This on a wall! TRUST IN THE DEVIL CAN"T GO WRONG!!

[erlewyne]

11. You cannot write his name

So "God is not his name" so trusting in god is blasphemy.

[keithbvadu2]

12. Which God?

[Gumboot]

22. Well, the kids should get to choose:

Nominating this much-loved deity...

[Throckmorton]

31. A graven Image of his pastaness!!!

Repent, or forever be damned to mushy noodles!!!

But, his pastaness is a benevolent benefactor, so Peace and Sauce be upon his name.

[Mr.Bill]

13. If you are an Atheist like I am,

When religious people say they don't mind you being an Atheist, they just don't want you to be so "in your face" about it, tell them these two things:

1. No on ever knocked on my door and tried to get me to be an atheist.

2. If Atheists ever become a majority in the government, we promise not to put "There Is No God" on all the money.

[lordsummerisle]

15. Where's the ACLU on this? n/t

[SergeStorms]

19. Very good question.

My guess is that every attorney they have is involved in litigation with the Trump Crime Family.

[BigmanPigman]

16. Are these walls currency all of a sudden?

This does NOT belong there!!!! Separation of Church and State, S. Dakota school board!!! This school board needs to go back to school since they obviously need to learn US history, Civics, etc.

Boycott this state, call the legislators and donate to FFRF (Freedom From Religion Foundation).

[Aristus]

17. I have no confidence that the current Supreme Court will strike this down.

The repukes have been dreaming of this for decades...

[FakeNoose]

18. It can all be painted over

As I recall from my high school days, a lot of kids are good at doing that kind of stuff.

[LibDemAlways]

21. When I was in high school back in '67,

someone painted a really awesome electrical banana (referring to a lyric in a popular song of the day) over the cafeteria. It appeared there one Monday morning. It truly was a work of pop art. The administration was not amused, however, and it was painted over by lunchtime. I trust that any words painted on the walls of any public school can be likewise be painted over without fuss.

[BlueIdaho]

20. See you in court... assholes. nt.

[scarytomcat]

23. they think if the write god on everything

it will make believers out of us all
brainwashing will not work

[FiveGoodMen]

24. "You know it doesn't like that name"

[Dr. Strange]

29. All this has happened before, and all this will happen again...

what with reruns and such.

[FiveGoodMen]

30. I was hoping someone got the reference!

That was my favorite SF, ever.

[onenote]

25. Court challenges to this, if they're brought, are unlikely to succeed.

https://www.sfgate.com/nation/article/In-God-We-Trust-suit-rejected-by-Supreme-Court-2471527.php

The fact that the Supreme Court refused to grant cert back in 2011 means that at least one of the following Justices did not support hearing the case: Ginsburg, Kagan, Sotomayor, Breyer.

[FoxNewsSucks]

28. too bad they cant do anything to stop the shootings. . . . nt

[Marthe48]

32. A tee shirt I saw

Student to God: Why are there so many shootings in our schools?
God: Because I'm not allowed in schools.

The people who support this nonsense refuse to understand that any person, any time, any school can pray to God if he or she so desires. Public schools aren't supposed to promote religion, because of the many reasons other posters have mentioned.

One of the comedians said that every time there is a hard test, you can bet there is prayer in schools!

If this is a public school, there will be lawsuits, I hope.

My grand kids go to a private school that won't take public funds, so it can be entirely private. So they have a prayer in their morning assembly.

[greyl]

33. K & R nt

[JustFiveMoreMinutes]

34. God is pleased, your Football and Boy's Basketball will rue the day! Ladies?

Off the fields and courts and make cookies and put on make up and nice clothes for your men!!!

God is pleased.

[BigDemVoter]

35. And exactly WTF is this supposed to achieve?

[meadowlander]

36. Do they mean "inspire patriotic kids to paint over it"?

How is that going to work in a school full of teachers and administrators who apparently don't understand the concept of separation of church and state?