Delegates didn’t put their faith in proposed amendments to a bill requiring “In God We Trust” signs in schools or another bill ensuring classroom discussions are allowed to ruminate on the ways the universe might have begun.
Senate Bill 152 would require display in a conspicuous place in West Virginia schools a durable poster or framed copy of the United States national motto, “In God We Trust.”
Delegate John Williams, D-Monongalia, would also have inserted the state motto “Montani Semper Liberi,” or Mountaineers are always free.
“We don’t have that much of a problem with our kids leaving the United States of America, but I’ll tell you what — we do have them leaving the State of West Virginia in droves,” Williams said.
“If we’re going to take the time to show some patriotism, to show kids as they walk through that schoolhouse door ‘In God We Trust,’ maybe we should show them ‘Montani Semper Liberi’ as well to show them what it means to be a West Virginian.”
House Judiciary Chairman Tom Fast, R-Fayette, argued against the change and said the state motto should be represented by a different bill. “This is an amendment for the national motto — ‘In God We Trust.’ “
The amendment was defeated 23-68. The bill is headed toward passage in the House on Friday.
Another bill where proposed changes were rejected has been described as an “Intelligent Design” bill, referring to the concept that life is so complicated that a powerful entity must be a guiding force behind it all.
The language of the bill more broadly says teachers would not be punished for discussions of how life began. Senate Bill 280 says:
“No public-school board, school superintendent or school principal may prohibit a public-school classroom teacher from responding to student inquiries or answering questions from students about scientific theories of how the universe and/or life came to exist.”
Delegates considered some proposed changes to that bill.
Delegate Kayla Young, D-Kanawha, proposed an amendment prohibiting the classroom embrace of zetetic astronomy.
“I just want to make sure our school representatives are not endorsing a flat earth because the earth is a sphere, and I hope we can all agree the earth is a sphere and that we do not want our teachers teaching flat earth theory,” Young said, perhaps going off the deep end intentionally to make a point.
Delegate Fast again spoke against the proposed change. “First and foremost, I noticed when she was explaining her amendment her colleagues around her were all laughing,” Fast said. “And that’s what I had on my notes here: ‘Is this a joke?’ And I say that respectfully, but is this a joke? I can only conclude that it is.
“If that question comes up, perhaps they can show the student pictures from the moon, the earth being round and satellite pictures and then discuss it. That’s what this bill is all about, for teachers to be allowed to discuss.”
Young responded that it’s an old theory that has not been proven, “which is why I don’t want teachers being able to confirm or endorse it. They would still be able to discuss it. It would just specifically say that they cannot confirm that it’s true or endorse that it is true.”
The flat earth amendment came crashing down on a voice vote.
Young followed up with another proposed amendment to say more broadly the discussions of life’s origins should be “in an objective manner and without endorsement.”
“So they can still answer questions and respond to students. I just want to make sure they are objective about all of it,” Young said.
Delegate Todd Kirby, R-Fayette, asked if the amendment would apply to the big bang theory.
Young said it would. “They can’t state their personal opinions, so it has to be objective the same way they teach now — they just can’t endorse their own theory.”
That satisfied Kirby. “I support the amendment based on her answer,” he said.
Delegate Joey Garcia, D-Marion, said the amendment would address a major concern about the bill. “This actually brings it back and provides some guardrails, where a teacher can talk about any question, they can do so freely, but they have to do so objectively and not try to persuade or put their opinion on a student.”
Delegate Geoff Foster, R-Putnam, disagreed. “I think this creates a minefield for our teachers to navigate,” he said.
Fast stood again and opposed the amendment. “The bill is to protect teachers to respond to inquiries and answer questions. It needs nothing further, period,” he said.
The amendment was defeated 78-13. The bill is headed toward a Friday passage vote.
