I Praise God after learning that a Michigan school board has decided to restore “In God We Trust” back into a school sign.
Pine River Area District recently had to combine two elementary schools in Osceola County and created a new sign showcasing the new schools identity. The artist painted the United States motto into the corner of the sign. The school’s superintendent, Jim Ganger, said the artist had no intention of making a political or religious statement but was including a trademark he had repeated in all of his work. “He didn’t do it to promote or inhibit religion in any way,” Ganger said. “It’s just part of his work. It was totally innocent.”
Despite the intent, the Pine River School Board received complaints from people who felt the school was indoctrinating students and the district’s attorneys recommended that the artist fill in the design.
After the sign was filled in, others became frustrated and asked why the country’s motto had been removed. On December 9, the board heard arguments from both sides of the issue and ultimately invoked the Supreme Court’s “lemon test” to reach its unanimous conclusion to restore the motto back into the sign.
“The board voted and we’re going to live with that. As a district we’re going to move forward,” Ganger said. Pine River trustee, Ron Schalow, said that he did not believe the sign promoted any type of religion. “That motto could discuss Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, or no religion at all. If it’s the national motto, it should be there. We see that as a generic representation in the words of the motto, not advancing or prohibiting any particular religious thought or belief.”
One supporter, Paul Roose, also found the value of the sign apart from any religious connotations. “Those things that our nation has been founded on are important for all of us,” Roose said.
Ganger said that he would be in contact with the sign’s artist to restore “In God We Trust” to the painting.
We appreciate the school boards decision and pray that the usual attack from the American Civil Liberties Union and the Freedom From Religion Foundation do not shortly follow this decision.