American Atheists Colorado State Director Margie Wait speaks out against the proposal, charging that it is inappropriate and possibly unconstitutional

he board of Colorado's Jefferson County School District voted unanimously last night to not post the religionized "In God We Trust" motto in classrooms of its 145 schools. This move comes after the State Board of Education voted 5-1 to encourage display of the slogan, and the July passage in the U.S. House of Representatives of a nonbinding resolution in favor of the motto.

   Opponents ranging from American Atheists to the ACLU and the Anti-Defamation League argued that the display of the motto in schools could violate the separation of church and state, and was inappropriate. Testifying against the measure at last night's public meeting was Margie Wait, Colorado State Director for American Atheists. Wait pointed to the mission statement for the Jefferson County Public Schools, which pledges "To provide a quality education that prepares all children for a successful future."

   "It doesn't say all Christian children or all children who believe in a supreme being," said Wait. "The mission statement is all inclusive, as it should be."

   Wait then delved into the history of the "In God We Trust" motto, pointing out: "For well over a century after our founding, the nation's motto was 'E Pluribus Unum' -- One from many or One from Many Parts."

   "It wasn't until 1956, during the height of the cold war -- in the McCarthy era -- when public profession of religious belief was seen as a litmus test of the ideological war against 'godless' communism that the 'God' motto replaced 'E Pluribus Unum,' " Wait added. "In fact, it was during the same time frame that 'under God' was added to the secular Pledge of Allegiance and 'so help me God' was mandated to end all oaths for federal justices and judges. All of these changes effectively religionized our nation's civic rituals and symbols."

   Only two of a dozen persons who addressed the board supported posting the motto. A local Unitarian minister said, "I urge all of us here to do religious education, but not in (sic) the walls of our public schools." Scott Schneider, parent of two youngsters attending school within Jefferson County, said that teachers should stick to their basic mission of teaching subjects like reading, writing and arithmetic, and avoid getting drawn into religion. "No one is better qualified than me to provide religious instruction," Schneider added.

   Even before the Thursday meeting, Board members expressed skepticism about the wisdom of posting the motto. Board President Jon DeStefano told the Canyon Courier newspaper, "We have a school district with members of every religious denomination there is. We have an important job to do here, and there is no reason why we need this distraction to take us away from our main job: educating our kids."

   The few who spoke out in favor of the proposal, though, cited religious belief or the alleged decline in moral values which manifested itself in the April, 1999 shootings at nearby Columbine High School. One Columbine parent at the meeting pointed to the anti-religious statements made by the two student gunmen, adding: "Our nation has so many freedoms built into it that we have to have some morality installed (sic) in our populace or these freedoms just won't work."

   Critics have charged that efforts to display the "In God We Trust" slogan are a gateway strategy for more overt schemes to move religious symbols and rituals into the public schools. Religious and other groups are also urging unfettered display of the Ten Commandments, or even "silent" or "student led" prayer in classrooms.

   When the Jefferson County board members rejected the proposal last night to display the motto, the audience burst into applause according to the Rocky Mountain News.

   After the vote, Ms. Wait warned that other school boards throughout Colorado are mulling the recommendation of the state agency. "We were successful here," said wait. "At least in Jefferson County, the First Amendment has some popular support."

   My name is Margie Wait, I live in Lakewood. I am the Colorado State Director for American Atheists.

   Last night I logged on to JeffcoNet to find out more information about this meeting. The first thing that caught my eye was the mission statement for Jefferson County Public Schools.

   "To provide a quality education that prepares ALL children for a successful future"

   It doesn't say all Christian children or all children who believe in a supreme being. The mission statement is all inclusive, as it should be.

   Now, we're here tonight to consider a proposal which will effectively diminish the meaning of that mission statement by posting "In God We Trust" in all of the schools.

   "In God We Trust" may be our national motto, but that hasn't always been the case. For well over a century after out founding, the nation's motto was "E Pluribus Unum" -- One from Many or One from Many Parts.

   It wasn't until 1956, during the height of the cold war -- in the McCarthy era -- when public profession of religious belief was seen as a litmus test in the ideological war against "godless" communism that the "God" motto replaced "E Pluribus Unum." In fact, it was during the same time frame that "under God" was added to the secular Pledge of Allegiance and "so help me God" was mandated to end all oaths for federal justices and judges. All of these changes effectively religionized our nation's civic rituals and symbols.

   Although the Supreme Court has never ruled that "In God We Trust" amounts to a violation of the First Amendment, by promoting religion over non-religion, the motto is still constitutionally suspect.

   Since 1957, all of our currency has included the motto "In God We Trust." Various denominations of our coins have included the motto since 1864. And it is worth noting how this change came about. A Rev. M.R. Watkinson, who was part of a larger campaign waged by a coalition of eleven Protestant denominations, disenchanted with the secularism of documents such as the constitution and hoping to make some changes, wrote a letter to the Secretary of the Treasury Samuel P. Chase in 1861.

   Finally, in 1863, it was left to one person, Secretary Chase, who formerly approved a design with "In God We Trust."

   All citizens have no choice but to use the money, whether we endorse the God motto or not. It's in our pockets and purses; chances are we see the motto everyday.

   Children nowadays have more money in their pockets than earlier generations have had. If "In God We Trust" is going to impact our children and make a difference in their lives, don't you think that we might have seen some difference by now? Yet, we are here tonight to consider posting the "God" motto in our public schools so all children will somehow be influenced by it.

   I'm here to tell you that, if anything, the "God" motto is divisive. Not all children in our public schools believe in the Judeo-Christian God, to which the motto most assuredly refers. We have Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, perhaps pagans, not to mention agnostics and Atheists attending Jefferson County Public Schools. To some of these children, the "God" motto is downright offensive to their beliefs and convictions. Posting the motto in the schools will send the message to those who do not share a belief in the Judeo-Christian God that they are second class citizens; that they somehow deserve to be less successful in life than their believing classmates.

   Therefore, I propose that the Jefferson County Schools refrain from posting the nation's motto in all schools. If we want to send a positive message to our children in the form of some "motto," I propose posting the original motto "E Pluribus Unum."

   Thank you very much for listening.

Margie Wait, Colorado State Director--
American Atheists

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