AnalysisReligion might be on the minds of some Alabama students, but it soon could be on their classroom walls, too.
A bill to put the country's motto, "In God We Trust" in public school cafeterias, classrooms and auditoriums sailed through the state Senate last week and looks likely to pass the House of Representatives.
In addition, several different bills to post the Ten Commandments in public buildings, most notably schools, show a fighting chance of becoming reality soon.
"It's a political season. Everybody wants to be more religious and more righteous than everybody else," Dr. Paul Hubbert said.
Hubbert, the executive secretary of the Alabama Education Association, said this has been familiar behavior at election time during his 33 years in education.
All of the bills that mention posting of religious texts in schools require private money, not public, to fund the displays, and they do mandate a certain date for posting. But in a time when education dollars fall far short of meeting education needs, Hubbert and other educators question the value of the bills and worry about repercussions.
"The litigation wastes a lot of dollars that could otherwise be used for someone who needs treatment or some child who does not have access to a quality program at school," he said. "This isn't being driven by anybody other than politicians," Hubbert said.
Local legislators Sen. Gerald Dial, D-Lineville, and Rep. Gerald Willis, D-Nances Creek, are sponsors of two of the bills that already have sparked debate about separation of church and state. Both say elections were not their motive. Both say they do not feel legal challenges will ensue.
Willis is the sponsor of a bill proposing the display of "In God We Trust" in schools. The bill has been approved by the House and awaits Senate action. An identical bill offered by Sen. Bill Armistead, R-Columbiana, has been approved by the Senate and is awaiting House action.
The Legislature is on break this week and will reconvene April 2.
"On my bill, it's not politics. It don't matter what year it was. I came up with the idea last May, when Mississippi passed this," Willis said.
"This shouldn't cause a legal battle because it's the motto of the United States," he continued. "If anybody objects to the motto of the U.S. and if they don't agree with the motto of the U.S., there's something wrong. You don't belong being a citizen of the U.S."
Dial is the sponsor of a proposed constitutional amendment to allow schools to post copies of the Ten Commandments. The amendment has passed the Senate and a version awaits action in the House.
Dial said he passed the same bill that is pending in the House now in 2001 and introduced it the year before. "It's received a lot of attention this year, but that's because it's come closer to passing than it ever has."
The senator says that the fact that an election is on the horizon could help the bill to pass this year.
Another bill similar to Dial's would post the Old Testament creed alone, but Dial said he feels his bill is superior because it would require a constitutional amendment, and that requires a vote of the people.
Some of the pending bills propose posting the commandments in a historical context, along with documents such as the Magna Carta and Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech, but Dial said he feels that would diminish the commandments.
Area educators appear to have less concern about posting the country's motto in schools, because it is already on money, than they do about posting the Ten Commandments alone.
"There's more leeway and latitude with putting up a motto. It's on our money, and it's part of our culture," Anniston City Schools interim-Superintendent Dr. Stephen Nowlin said. "We don't have any money with the Ten Commandments on it."
Nowlin, who is also a Jacksonville State University professor with expertise in education law, said he has followed the progress of various Ten Commandments cases around the country and thinks a constitutional amendment passed by the people to post the Ten Commandments alone still would not be immune to legal challenges.
"I think it must be put in some kind of historical context. Just a constitutional amendment referendum … even if passed by the people, would be declared unconstitutional," he said. "It's very much like a moment of silent prayer. You have to have a moment of silent reflection."
Similarly, Nowlin said, schools cannot post religious images during Christmas, unless they are placed in a larger context, such as with snowmen and Christmas trees or a menorah.
Nowlin, like some other area superintendents, identified himself as a Christian who believes in the Decalog in his personal life, but worries about offending those who have other beliefs.
Jacksonville City Schools Superintendent Lee Messer said that point doesn't bother him.
"But I still feel that if everyone went to church on Sunday and acted that way … we wouldn't have to throw Bibles at people (about the various bills involving religion)."
Piedmont Superintendent Dr. Barry Sadler said he wholeheartedly supports all of the bills and feels it is something the majority of his community wants.
The Rev. Freddy Rimpsey, chair of the Alabama Democratic Conference for Calhoun County, also feels both the Ten Commandments and "In God We Trust" belong in classrooms.
"When I was growing up, we had a Bible verse every morning. Ain't nobody forcing anything on you. It's just giving you choices. Don't deprive anyone else of their religious rights," Rimpsey said.
Piedmont mother Wendy Young, who was at Willis' campaign announcement kick-off, said she would like such religious messages in her sons' schools.
"We're all Christians, because without God there's not a whole lot."
Allen Mauldin, a history teacher at Anniston High School who grew up with prayer in school, said he doesn't feel the Ten Commandments necessarily equate to religious propaganda. He said he agrees with both bills.
"We cover it in a historical context anyway," he said. "If the feds say it's okay to put 'In God We Trust' on the back of the five dollar bill, then it's okay with me."
However, those opposed to placing any mention of religion in schools say it is unfair to children.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Alabama says the religious documents can influence impressionable young minds in a self-contained classroom.
In a press release issued in response to Dial's bill in particular, the ACLU wrote: "The posting of the Ten Commandments does not respect freedom of religion, because it makes those who are not members of religions that revere the Commandments feel like outsiders in their own public buildings and schools."
Approached about the topic of the proposed legislation recently, several area history teachers voiced disagreement with posting the Ten Commandments alone on walls, but declined to comment on the record for fear of community retribution.
The teachers all willingly identified themselves as Christians, but said they felt posting the Ten Commandments in classrooms without a historical context would force a view on impressionable young minds.
When topics such as evolution or Roe vs. Wade come up in class, one teacher said, she has a difficult time keeping students away from strong religious arguments.
Anniston High School teacher Rita Harris was not afraid to share her feelings on the matter. Ms. Harris said she supports religious events in school that allow children a choice, but feels posting the Ten Commandments is a different matter.
"I think it's all right when children are given the chance to participate or take part in special club meetings (involving religion) that you volunteer to participate in; but it's not voluntary that you come to my class," Ms. Harris said.
Some students at Anniston High School say they do not think posting "In God We Trust" or the Ten Commandments would have any impact on students, but they also said they wouldn't mind if it were put up.
"They wouldn't even pay it no mind," freshman Shaqutta Hutchison, 15, said of her peers.
"If they're going to have it, it's just going to be there for decoration," senior Nikita Holder said.
Regardless of the debate over separation of church and state, Chiqita Hall felt such a posting would send a positive message to students.
"I think they should put it up," Ms. Hall, 16, said. "A lot of people in this school don't go to church. I think they need it in schools."
The push from state legislators - and those across the country - to fuse religion into schools is not unusual in this country's history, particularly during times of national distress.
"In God We Trust" first was placed on coins because of an increase in religious sentiment during the Civil War, according to the U.S. Department of Treasury Web site. The phrase was adopted as the country's motto in 1956 by President Dwight Eisenhower, during the Red Scare. Over the years, the motto was expanded and placed on dollar bills as the Vietnam War gained momentum between 1964 and 1966.
And while Ten Commandments legislation around the country consistently has been followed with lawsuits, "In God We Trust" legislation has fared better.
From Virginia to Michigan to Florida, legislatures around the country have proposed putting the motto on school walls. The American Family Association, a Christian group based in Tupelo, Miss., is a key force behind the movement and is helping to fund the displays.
During a recent visit to Washington, D.C. in preparation for his run for the 3rd Congressional District, Willis said, he noticed the motto on all the public buildings and wondered if Alabama students know what their motto is.
"I think the students really need to know the motto of the United States," Willis said. "I'm not ashamed of the bill, because I believe our forefathers put their trust in God."
L.E. Forster covers education for The Star. She can be reached at 235-9293 or at lforster@annistonstar.com.
