Schools across South Dakota will soon have the national motto, “In God We Trust,” displayed prominently in every school of the state’s 149 school districts.
The law took effect this month, and mandates that all public schools must paint, stencil, hang, or display the motto in some way on their campuses.
Associated School Boards of South Dakota Executive Director Wade Pogany told the Associated Press that schools across the state are adding the signage in a variety of ways.
“Some have plaques. Other have it painted on the wall, maybe in a mural setting,” Pogany explained. In one school “it was within their freedom wall. They added that to a patriotic theme.”
Lawmakers who pushed the bill, which was signed by Gov. Kristi Noem in March, said that the purpose behind the new law was to inspire patriotism. Displays must be at least 12-by-12 inches in size.
There has been some pushback to the new decree. Co-president of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, Annie Laurie Gaylor, decried the law and said it was forcing religion onto children.
“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,” Gaylor said.
The state doesn’t provide additional funding to add the displays, although the law contains a hold harmless clause that mandates the state would provide legal protection for schools or districts that might face lawsuits.
The motto “In God We Trust” was signed into law in 1956 by President Dwight Eisenhower, appearing on paper currency soon after.
