02.01.02

By Sharon Ramos

Two key House committees last month approved a bill to require all public schools in Virginia to prominently post the national motto, "In God We Trust," for all students to read.

The committees on Education and Courts endorsed House Bill 108 and sent it to the full chamber for consideration.

Delegate Robert G. Marshall, R-Manassas, is the patron of the bill. Marshall said his bill had four purposes:

• The display of the motto helps solemnize what takes place in public schools.

• The context of the motto acknowledges the humility that schoolteachers should have in dealing with vital and difficult tasks during the course of a school day.

• The motto is an expression of hope.

• The motto symbolizes unity for Americans.

"The American flag and the national motto symbolizes the common identity as Americans," Marshall said, "and displays of the motto in our public buildings helps reinforce our citizens’ sense of membership of this nation.

"In the wake of Sept. 11, this is especially important."

Marshall’s bill drew opposition from Robert S. Alley, a professor emeritus of humanities at the University of Richmond.

A religion professor, Alley said the national motto has religious connotations. "It is a blatant endorsement of a theological position. And there are vast numbers of people who resist that kind of language even though themselves maybe religious," Alley said.

"Putting into the state of Virginia, the name of God and telling everybody that in children’s schools that God has a status in the public schools and therefore, by implications, everyone should believe in God.

"Most students probably do [believe in God], but that’s not the issue. This is a free exercise question. I don’t think it’s appropriate under the Constitution, either Virginia or federal. I rigorously opposed it. I regret it passed. I’m not surprised it passed."

Marshall said his bill’s purpose is to inspire patriotism and unity, not advance religion.

In addition, the bill also requires the Office of the Attorney General is required to intervene on behalf of local school boards and to provide legal defense of this provision.

An enactment clause authorizes local school boards to accept contributions in cash or in-kind from any person (defined to include individuals, companies, organizations and other legal entities) to defray the costs of implementing the provision.

Marshall introduced two measures similar to HB 108. One would require posting the national motto in a chief administrative building in each Virginia city or county; the other would require posting the motto in courtrooms.

> Return to On The Lege