Director, Commonwealth Policy Center

Does the National Motto belong in public school? State Rep. Brandon Reed thinks so. He's introducing a bill that would require every Kentucky public elementary and secondary schools to display the motto "In God We Trust" in a prominent location. Reed said there's "no reason for us to be ashamed of our national motto; it is a vital part of our culture.” The motto "In God we Trust" has been on our coins since 1864 but the idea of God as part of our political fabric is as old as the Declaration of Independence. Our political compact acknowledges "that we are endowed by our Creator" with inalienable rights. Our state Constitution acknowledges God as the giver of our political, civil and religious liberties. So, if God has a place in our political life, doesn't it make sense that it's something that all students should understand?