GOP lawmakers seek to require public schools to display 'In God We Trust' in classrooms
Republican Sen. Cory Tomczyk of Mosinee and GOP Reps. Joy Goeben of Hobart and Nate Gustafson of Fox Crossing are seeking support from legislative colleagues for a bill that would require the displays to be present in all public school buildings within six months of passage of the bill and by the 2026-27 school year in schools.
"This measure is by no means unprecedented. Wisconsin would join a growing list of states recently requiring the motto be displayed including Florida, South Carolina, Arkansas, South Dakota, Tennessee, and most recently Louisiana," the lawmakers wrote in a memo seeking support.
The lawmakers said it would codify a trend of states enacting similar laws since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.
The bill would require the displays to be at least 11 inches by 14 inches large.
Under current law, each school board and governing body of a private school must display the U.S. flag in the schoolroom or from a flagstaff on the school grounds during the school hours of each school day, according to an analysis of the proposal by the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau.
"In God We Trust" has been the national motto since 1956. The saying first appeared on U.S. coins during the Civil War and is still included on currency today.
The use of "In God We Trust" in government buildings like schools has been challenged in court over the years, arguing the display of the motto violates the First Amendment's freedom of religion protections. A U.S. Appeals Court in 2018 ruled the motto was constitutional and did not infringe on Americans' rights to free religion. The U.S. Supreme Court in 2019 rejected a case involving the question of constitutionality.
A spokeswoman for Gov. Tony Evers, a former public school educator, did not immediately react to the proposal.
Molly Beck can be reached at molly.beck@jrn.com.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: GOP lawmakers want public schools to display 'In God We Trust'
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