‘In God We Trust’ signs will do nothing to improve education in West Virginia

Last week, Gov. Patrick Morrisey held a news conference to show off some religious posters donated by a cell phone provider to place into West Virginia classrooms.

During this year’s legislative session, a law was passed that requires all public schools — including public charter schools — public colleges and universities to display a “durable poster or framed copy of the United States motto, ‘In God We Trust.’”

These posters were donated by Patriot Mobile, which describes itself as “America’s only Christian conservative wireless provider.” If you, like me, wonder what that even means, according to an email I received, a portion of the company’s proceeds “goes to organizations fighting for First Amendment rights, Second Amendment rights, the sanctity of life, and supporting military veterans and first responders.”

Quenton King wrote a commentary about how this is letting right-wing organizations into our public schools, and how the company has taken over multiple school boards in Texas.

Yes, “In God We Trust” is the United States’ motto, but lawmakers are pushing this because of the mention of God.

Sen. Mike Azinger, R-Wood, who sponsored the bill for three years until its passage, said he wanted “to give honor to God for this bill. … If America stays with that motto in our hearts and West Virginia stays with that motto in our hearts, we’ll be OK.”

Republicans are using this law as an excuse to blur the line between church and state. But not for all churches, just the Christian church. 

Why is the state trying to force one religion on everyone? After all, about 31% of West Virginians are religiously unaffiliated, and 3% identify as Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu or other world religions. 

Republicans often say that things started to go downhill in the U.S. when “we took God out of schools,” They are referring to a 1962 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that found school-sponsored prayer violated the First Amendment Establishment Clause, which says the government cannot establish a religion or favor one religion over another. But as anyone who has taken a final exam or watched a Friday night football game can attest, prayers are often said in our public schools.

And let’s not forget that back in the 19th century when prayer was a regular part of the school day, it led to fighting between Protestant and Catholics over which prayers should be said and which version of the Bible to use. 

When Morrisey signed Senate Bill 280 into law, he said, “We have to ensure that we’re teaching kids about the founding principals of our country — a true and accurate retailing of civics and American life and history.”

In history class, students will learn that “In God We Trust” was not the motto of our founding fathers. It only became the U.S. motto in 1956, replacing E pluribus unum — “Out of many, one” — which was proposed as the country’s motto in 1776, and adopted in 1782. 

President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s administration pushed for the motto change during the Cold War era to further differentiate the United States from the Soviet Union and other communist countries. Evangelist Billy Graham had a lot of influence on his administration at the time.

If parents want their children to learn about religion, there are tons of churches all over the state that they can take them to for services or youth groups.

And if parents want their child to be educated on God every day, then they can homeschool them or send them to a Christian or Catholic school. Isn’t that one of the purposes of the $5,267.38 per-year Hope Scholarship? 

“In God We Trust” signs will do nothing to feed the hungry children in West Virginia, improve low math and reading proficiency or give underpaid teachers a raise. It only feeds the ego of Republicans who want voters to think they’re good Christians without doing the real work of helping the poor and feeding the hungry.