Public schools in West Virginia may soon be required to display the phrase \u201cIn God We Trust\u201d in every building if a bill passed by the state Senate on Monday becomes law.
\nThe bill was introduced by Republican Sen. Mike Azinger, who said he wants to give kids in schools something to look up to and let them know it’s OK to \u201csay God\u201d in school.
\n\u201cWe know there\u2019s a lot of kids that have problems at home, tough times at home that we don\u2019t know anything about,\u201d Azinger said, speaking on the Senate floor. \u201cMaybe they\u2019ll look up one day and say, \u2018In God We Trust\u2019 and know they can put their hope in God.\u201d
\nThe bill is now heading to the West Virginia House of Delegates. It requires public K-12 schools and public institutions of higher learning to display the official U.S. national motto on durable posters or in frames placed in a \u201cconspicuous place\u201d in each building.
\nThe displays must also contain images of the U.S. national and state flags but can’t depict any other words, images or information. They must be either be donated or purchased from private donations.
\nSimilar laws have been passed in Texas, Kentucky, Louisiana, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia and several other states. Mississippi was the first state to pass a law mandating \u201cIn God We Trust\u201d be displayed in public schools back in 2001.
\nFormer President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a law making \u201cIn God We Trust\u201d the official U.S. national motto July 30, 1956, two years after pushing to have the phrase \u201cunder God\u201d inserted into the Pledge of Allegiance.
\n\u201cIt was adopted during a time of disunity in America, at a time that unity was needed,\u201d Azinger said Monday. \u201cAnd I think that\u2019s where we are in America in many ways.\u201d<\/p>\n