A proposal requiring all Ohio schools to post the state and federal mottos likely will ignite another heated debate over church-state separation if the bill gains traction in the legislature.
Every classroom, auditorium and cafeteria in the state would display the mottos "With God, All Things are Possible" and "In God We Trust" hanging in separate frames measuring at least 11-by-14 inches, under a proposal by Rep. Keith Faber, R-Celina.
"What we want to do is make sure we promote the state and national mottos in the classroom," Faber said. "Both of the mottos have been upheld as constitutional and reflect a part of our tradition and historical perspective."
The bill also would prominently display the word "God" inside Ohio schools roughly 200,000 times - a situation that irritates those who advocate wide separation on church-state issues.
"Clearly this is a back-door effort to try to get religion into the public schools," said Joe Conn, spokesman for Americans United for Separation of Church and State. "They aren't trying to teach children about civics. They're trying to promote religion in schools, and that's certainly not appropriate."
If approved as written, Ohio would join South Carolina and Mississippi in requiring the national motto be displayed in every classroom, according to the American Family Association. The organization, which sells 11-by-14 motto posters at a cost of three for $10, is pushing to get "In God We Trust" into every classroom.
Mississippi lawmakers did not provide funding for their 2001 motto requirement, instead leaving it up to private citizens to raise money for the posters. Faber also would expect local veterans groups and churches to pick up the tab in Ohio.
The Ohio Legislative Service Commission estimates it will cost about $3 million to place two framed wall hangings in each of the state's 100,000 classrooms. That estimate assumes schools will print their own posters for a negligible cost.
Les Ryle, principal of Baker Middle School in Marion, said he likes the idea but is concerned that schools would be stuck paying for the posters.
"I'd be in favor of it," he said. "There's nothing wrong with the mottos. These are some of the guiding principles of the founding fathers of this state and country."
But legal realities might stop him from jumping on board completely.
"I'd be hesitant to say, 'Yeah, full speed ahead,'" he said. "If the constitutional viability of this bill is going to cause more distractions in our classrooms - we have enough distractions to begin with. I can see a can of worms opened up that is not advantageous to our students."
Marion City Schools Superintendent Bill Zwick expressed concern about the state issuing another mandate to schools. Zwick said he would expect the state will "do their homework" and make sure that putting the state and national motto in every classroom is legal.
Of the estimated cost of effecting such a mandate, the superintendent of one of many school districts whose levies were defeated March 2 said, "Why don't we put that money into school funding?"
Faber dismisses concerns that the bill would force a particular religion on students, noting that the term "God" doesn't refer to a specific deity.
"As long as people understand we're not saying, 'My religion's right and your religion's wrong' or that we're going to preach the scripture," he said. "All we're saying is the state has a motto and the motto is based in a historical context."
Plus, Faber said, a "compelling argument" is made that more problems developed in schools when people started forcing God out.
"It's amazing to me that people say we don't want God in the classroom, yet my view is God comes into the classroom every morning when the children come in," he said.
But the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio disagrees. Executive Director Chris Link said just because courts have ruled the mottos constitutional for general purposes doesn't mean they'll allow them to saturate public schools.
And this is not simply hanging up the national motto in a school hallway, she said.
"It feels much different when you're walking through an elementary school seeing these two religious-based sayings in every classroom," she said.
Two states - Utah and Virginia - have passed laws requiring the national motto be displayed in schools, but not in each classroom, according to the Family Association. Ten states have passed laws permitting schools to post the national motto, but not requiring it.
Making the law a requirement, Faber said, will force the state, rather than an individual district, to defend a potential legal challenge to the law.