As of August 1, 2023, all public classrooms, grades K-12 and colleges or universities, will have to display “In God We Trust” in every classroom.
The law does not say where the motto must be displayed or set a minimum or maximum size, but it must appear in every classroom throughout the state. Previously, the law required that educational institutions display the national motto somewhere in the building but now it must appear in every classroom.
Gov. John Bel Edwards signed House Bill 8 in June and a bill last week allowing public high schools to teach an elective course on Bible history and literature.
According to CNN, The bill’s author, state Rep. Dodie Horton said, “It doesn’t preach any particular religion at all, but it certainly does recognize a higher power.”
While the “In God We Trust” motto does not reference any one religion, critics of the law fear it will further blur the lines separating church and state, which follows a pattern seen in Southern legislatures in recent years.
“It’s our belief that parents, not school officials, should be responsible for shaping their children’s religious education,” said ACLU of Louisiana advocacy strategist A’Niya Robinson.
