Idaho law puts donated ‘In God We Trust’ posters in ‘conspicuous’ places at school

Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman

BOISE (Idaho Statesman) — Students successful Idaho schools successful nan past twelvemonth whitethorn person started seeing much salient posters displaying nan nationalist motto, “In God We Trust,” successful their classrooms.

That’s because of a rule Idaho legislators passed past twelvemonth requiring schoolhouse districts and universities to show these posters aliases framed copies successful “conspicuous” places if they’re donated and meet definite requirements.

The rule applies to each nationalist acquisition institutions nether nan power of nan State Board of Education aliases nan committee of regents of nan University of Idaho, which includes schoolhouse districts, colleges and universities. The West Ada schoolhouse committee approved a caller argumentation Monday to comply pinch nan law.

Rep. Jeff Cornilles, a Nampa Republican who sponsored nan authorities past year, said nan nationalist motto is historical and represents nan country’s founding based connected “Judeo-Christian philosophies and rules.”

“It’s portion of nan founding cloth of our nation,” he told nan Idaho Statesman. “And I deliberation immoderate of that’s been taken distant from nine and, successful particular, immoderate of our young people.”

IDAHO LAW PUTS STRICT CRITERIA ON DISPLAYS

The law, which took effect successful July 2023, mandates that a schoolhouse territory show a durable poster aliases framed transcript of nan nation’s motto that was donated if it meets definite criteria.

The show must characteristic a practice of nan U.S. aliases Idaho flag. It must besides only incorporate black, white, golden aliases metallic successful nan background, lettering and framing, and it can’t place nan philanthropist aliases person immoderate different logos. A poster that meets nan requirements tin besides beryllium purchased from backstage donations.

A schoolhouse territory aliases assemblage is responsible for approving nan size of nan poster aliases framed transcript that would request to beryllium displayed. Administrative rules associated pinch West Ada’s caller argumentation authorities nan poster tin beryllium nary larger than 12-by-20 inches. The territory tin cull a aid if it doesn’t meet each of nan parameters.

West Ada wide counsel Amy White said past period nan territory had received 2 donations complete nan past schoolhouse year. Under nan legislation, schools tin find wherever they show nan nationalist motto.

Trustees passed nan argumentation Monday pinch nary discussion.

‘EVERY CHILD’ SHOULD FEEL WELCOME, LAWMAKER SAYS

The authorities was loosely based connected a rule passed successful Texas, Cornilles told nan Statesman, but akin versions person been utilized successful different states.

When Cornilles projected nan Idaho bill, immoderate legislators raised concerns that students who were members of different belief groups could consciousness alienated by nan posters. Sen. Janie Ward-Engelking, a Boise Democrat and erstwhile teacher, said it’s important to beryllium respectful of differing belief beliefs from students.

“We person nan separation of religion and authorities for a reason, and schools are surely an area wherever I locomotion very cautiously pinch that,” Ward-Engelking told nan Statesman. “I want to make judge that each kid feels welcome, each kid feels valued, and that their views are honored, moreover if they’re not nan views that I share.”

Cornilles said nan nationalist motto has been portion of nan civilization for a agelong clip and is recognized arsenic portion of nan nation’s history.

“They could besides look astatine it arsenic a historical document, because it is and portion of what this state stands for,” he told nan Statesman. “Whether they judge successful that aliases not, it’s what this state was based on.”