'In God We Trust' going up at South Dakota public schools
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
(8,704 posts)trev
(1,480 posts)"inspire patriotism?"
hatrack
(59,592 posts)And soon, South Dakota test scores will soar, teen pregnancy will vanish and incidents of beatings and bullying will drop to zero.
forgotmylogin
(7,530 posts)and state.
LiberalLovinLug
(14,176 posts)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
(267 posts)because I won't be going back
Tech
(1,772 posts)Wellstone ruled
(34,661 posts)Apostolic movement in the Eastern Counties of South Dakota in which the Governor and her family are major leaders.
Maraya1969
(22,497 posts)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
(21,646 posts)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
(33,400 posts)Atheism is growing too. That's why they're panicking and passing these bullshit laws. They're scared that God is dead.
fierywoman
(7,694 posts)"In God we trust, all others pay cash."
bluestarone
(17,030 posts)This on a wall! TRUST IN THE DEVIL CAN"T GO WRONG!!
erlewyne
(1,115 posts)So "God is not his name" so trusting in god is blasphemy.
keithbvadu2
(36,906 posts)Gumboot
(531 posts)Nominating this much-loved deity...
Throckmorton
(3,579 posts)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
(24,319 posts)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
(4,651 posts)SergeStorms
(19,204 posts)My guess is that every attorney they have is involved in litigation with the Trump Crime Family.
BigmanPigman
(51,627 posts)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
(66,462 posts)The repukes have been dreaming of this for decades...
FakeNoose
(32,748 posts)As I recall from my high school days, a lot of kids are good at doing that kind of stuff.
LibDemAlways
(15,139 posts)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
(13,582 posts)scarytomcat
(1,706 posts)it will make believers out of us all
brainwashing will not work
FiveGoodMen
(20,018 posts)Dr. Strange
(25,923 posts)what with reruns and such.
FiveGoodMen
(20,018 posts)That was my favorite SF, ever.
onenote
(42,759 posts)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
(10,435 posts)Marthe48
(17,018 posts)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
(22,990 posts)JustFiveMoreMinutes
(2,133 posts)Off the fields and courts and make cookies and put on make up and nice clothes for your men!!!
God is pleased.
BigDemVoter
(4,157 posts)meadowlander
(4,402 posts)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?