In God We Trust

States Legislatures are passing laws to require public schools to display “In God We Trust”. Arkansas, Louisiana, Florida and Tennessee have passed this law and schools have implemented the policy.

Arkansas - Arkansas schools ‘In God We Trust' poster law goes into effect, by Joe Clark 2/21/18.

KNWA - FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA) - A recently-passed law requiring Arkansas schools to put up "In God We Trust" posters went into effect on Monday.

Rep. Jim Dotson, R-Bentonville, gave the Bentonville School Board framed copies of the poster on Monday evening.

Dotson created the law to require all classrooms and libraries in Arkansas public schools to display "In God We Trust" if framed copies of the phrase are contributed. The local American Legion Post helped raise the money to purchase 891 framed posters for the Bentonville School District.

Some residents at Monday's meeting voiced opposition.

According to Dotson, the bill went through the Arkansas Legislature, passing 78-1 in the House and 20-2 in the Senate.

https://www.nbc4i.com/news/u-s-world/arkansas-schools-in-god-we-trust-poster-law-goes-into-effect/1096394187

Louisiana - Bill requiring display of 'In God We Trust' at public schools becomes law, by Wilborn P Nobles III, 5/30/18.

NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune - Hundreds of public schools in Louisiana will have to display the national motto of "In God We Trust" on their buildings by August 2019, after Gov. John Bel Edwards signed the proposed bill into law last week.

The governor's signature May 23 means public school authorities must now display the national motto in each building used by a school under its jurisdiction. The law also requires Louisiana's social studies curriculum to teach students about the motto by the 5th grade, a provision that expands upon the existing law that orders schools to teach students about the U.S flag and other "patriotic customs."

https://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2018/05/in_god_we_trust_school_law.html

Florida - Florida law requires 'In God We Trust' to be displayed in public schools statewide

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - You'll find it on the dollar, on license plates, and in a few weeks, you'll find these words on every public school campus in Florida: "In God We Trust."

It's Florid'a state motto, but now thanks to a new law passed, it's going to be required in all school districts.

After the legislation passed this year, school districts are required to have all schools and each building used by the district school board to display it.

According to the Florida Senate website, the original House Bill, 839, died in the Senate but passed as a companion bill under sweeping education bill House Bill 7055.

"In places where it isn't already present, simply posting the state seal meets the statutory requirements and so that's what we're in the process of, making sure that our state seal is in place at every school," Sharon Michalik, Director of Communications for Bay District Schools, explained.

http://www.wjhg.com/content/news/Florida-law-requires-In-God-We-Trust-to-be-displayed-in-public-school-489807851.html

Tennessee - 'In God We Trust' motto now required to be displayed in all Tennessee public schools, by Mary Constantine, Knoxville News Sentinel, 8/3/18.

'In God We Trust' must now be prominently displayed in every public school in the state of Tennessee. Angela Gosnell, Knoxville News Sentinel

Following the March passage of House Bill 2368 by the Tennessee state legislature, the motto "In God We Trust" must be prominently displayed in every public school in the state.

The bill was sponsored by Rep. Susan Lynn, R-Mt. Juliet, and approved by 81 of the 99 House members.

The Tennessee state Senate unanimously passed the "In God We Trust" legislation, which was sponsored by Sen. Paul Bailey, R-Sparta, and it was signed into law by Gov. Bill Haslam in April.  

Lynn spoke on the House floor to explain her belief in the importance of the motto. "Our national motto is on our money. It's on our license plates. It's part of our national anthem. Our national motto and founding documents are the cornerstone of freedom, and we should teach our children about these things," she said.

Similar laws have been passed in Florida and Arkansas. 

According to Treasury.gov, the phrase "In God We Trust" was first used on U.S. money in 1864, when it appeared on the two-cent coin. It became the national motto in 1956.

https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/education/2018/08/03/god-we-trust-motto-tennessee-public-schools/889966002/

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader