County in Alabama Votes to Display ‘In God We Trust’ in All Public Schools

Alabama’s Cullman County School Board voted to display “In God We Trust” inside all public schools.

The resolution was passed unanimously at a meeting on the evening of Sept. 13, The Cullman Times reported. The vote follows an earlier one by the Alabama state government that allowed all state institutions to display the motto.

Superintendent Shane Barnette handed out materials describing the history of “In God We Trust” at the meeting.

“Some people may disagree with it, but the Legislature voted to allow it,” Barnette told The Cullman Times. “I think it’s important for students to know the history and how this came about in our nation’s early years.”

The materials described how the phrase is engraved in buildings of both chambers of the U.S. Congress.

“I think now more than ever we need God,” Terri Peppers, a local parent, told WVTM. “Personally as a family that’s what we believe in. So if I walk in and see it, it’s just a daily reminder.”

The school system plans to display the motto in all 28 schools in the school system, according to WVTM.

Action in Other States

The move follows similar ones in other states. This year in Florida, a state law passed requiring school’s to display “In God We Trust.” School’s are complying by displaying the state seal, which includes the motto.

“What would happen if we removed God from our public forums and things we do every day? When we remove God, we remove hope,” said the bill’s sponsor Rep. Kimberly Daniels, during an earlier speech, via the Orlando Sentinel.

Critics of the law think Florida has more pressing issues, especially after the school shooting in Parkland. Daniels addressed the shooting, and emphasized that the law is even more relevant than before.

“Few would disagree with me that God is positive. He’s not a Republican and he’s not a Democrat,” she said, via the Orlando Sentinel. “He’s not black, and he’s not white. He is the light. And our schools need light in them like never before.”

Tennessee also passed a law this year requiring “In God We Trust” to be displayed in schools.

“We hang the Constitution. We hang the Declaration of Independence and other historical documents in our schools, why not the national motto?” said State Rep. Susan Lynn, who sponsored the bill, via WATE. “I think it’s a good message that we don’t trust in government. It’s not government we trust, it’s ‘In God We Trust.’”

Lynn told WATE there is no penalty if a school decides not to post the motto.

In Alabama, “In God We Trust” was already on display in 17 public venues, but until the recent vote, no new venues have displayed the motto since 2014, AL.com reported.

Alabama residents will vote in November to decide if public schools can display the Ten Commandments.

“My hope is they have the Ten Commandments in the schools all over the state of Alabama as well as the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the historical documents that go with this country,” said Dean Young, chairman of the Ten Commandments political action committee, via AL.com.

From NTD.tv