Beginning in fall all Louisiana public schools will have to display “In God We Trust” and educate students about the origin of the national motto.
The law was written by Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow, who says the motto must at minimum be displayed on a paper sheet. “It’s going to be at the discretion of each jurisdiction in terms of how they would like to post it, but at least it has to be posted at each jurisdiction.” The Senator adds the legislation also allows teachers to freely choose to display the motto in their classroom.
The law requires that the history of the motto be added to the mandatory curriculum in public schools. Barrow says it’s meant to teach students about the “patriotic history” of the USA.
“having that to me as a part of the basic education format would help to ensure that every child understands that this country was built on biblical principles.”
The information will be taught alongside instruction on proper flag etiquette.
Opponents say the law imposes religious education on public school students and point out that the motto was only added to currency in 1957. Barrow disagrees with those arguments. “Certainly, this may have been when it was actually placed on there, but the fundamentals of how this country was built were definitely on biblical principles, and I think that it is the one thing that we never need to forget in this country.”
The law cleared the Legislature in 2018 without a single dissenting vote.