God, Guns, and Abortion, that is all the legislature seems to be concerned about. Now they want schools to violate separation of church and state, yet provide NO funding mechanism;
FOR AN ACT ENTITLED, An Act to require 1 the national motto of the United States to be
2 displayed in public schools.
3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA:
4 Section 1. That chapter 13-24 be amended by adding a NEW SECTION to read:
5 Beginning in the 2019-2020 school year, the national motto of the United States, “In God
6 We Trust,” shall be displayed in each public school. The display shall be located in a prominent
7 location within each public school. The display may take the form of a mounted plaque, student
8 artwork, or any other appropriate form as determined by the school principal.
9 For the purposes of this section, a prominent location is a school entryway, cafeteria, or
10 other common area where students are most likely to see the national motto display.
While some may argue that the term ‘GOD’ doesn’t talk about a specific religion, I still think it borders on violation of the separation clause. What’s even worse is that the legislature wants schools to apparently fund this on their own without providing a funding mechanism. A sign or plaque that is prominently displayed could cost anywhere from $75 to $750 dollars. This is a waste of educational dollars. If I was one of these schools I would take a highlighter to a dollar bill and put it in a frame and hang that up. In America, we only have one true God, and it is green.
First of all, how does our legislature have time for such measures? This is an other example of the Boys/Girls State world that too many of our state and local leaders live in. They play government. They are clueless to the real issues that impact all South Dakotans.
And do these legislators know that the phrase, “In God We Trust,” was not placed on our currency or engraved into the US House of Representatives Chamber until the mid 1950s? This is not a phrase from our forefathers, many who were Diests; and if you are a Deist you believe that God is found within you, that there is no Holy Trinity, because there is no Holy Ghost in their minds. So the legislators endorsing this idea want to trust themselves – if they claim they are upholding the original intent of our nation – I guess, but don’t they already?….. But then again, after having authored this measure, I have to admit, I am finding it harder, however, to trust them…
Such a plaque, prominently displayed, has potential to be the most vandalized item in any school. “In Godot We Trust” would be a popular choice.
make sure the plaque also includes a dollar bill, because that’s what the legislators really care about.