A bill requiring public schools to post "In God We Trust" in classrooms received the House Education Standing Committee's blessing Tuesday, two weeks after another committee rejected it.
Absent from the debate were opponents, who provided the only public testimony in HB79's first go-round earlier this month in the Education Interim Committee. Opponents had feared the bill would turn schools into a battleground for church and state separation.
But Tuesday's testifiers likened those concerns to political correctness. Sponsoring Rep. Richard Siddoway, R-Bountiful, said children are as likely to turn into Christians while looking at the motto as they are to be turned into hamburgers while watching McDonalds ads.
The bill seeks to post the nation's motto, adopted in 1956, in every public school classroom, auditorium and cafeteria. The sign, also encouraged for public buildings under a Congressional resolution, must be at least 11 inches by 14 inches.
The bill appears to forward the American Family Association's "In God We Trust" national campaign. So far, the motto, of which the AFA sells framed copies, has been posted in nearly 250,000 classrooms and public offices nationwide.
Supporters of the bill believe the motto will unite communities in patriotism.
"To me, the bill is not about battling religious freedoms . . . it is about America," said North Salt Lake resident Kim Jensen, who asked Siddoway to carry the bill. "Let us carry on the torch of American pride for our children."
Rep. Lorraine Pace, vice chairwoman of the committee, embraced the idea. Her only regret is that she didn't carry the bill herself.
"It is a shame we're not making children aware of this (motto)," Pace said. "I applaud Rep. Rep. Siddoway's moral courage."
Rep. Lamont Tyler, R-East Millcreek, was the sole dissenter. He says schools already are encouraged to post the motto, and if they want to, they will.
E-MAIL: jtcook@desnews.com