High school district considers 'God' motto
| Monday, Oct 01 2007 02:10 AM
Last Updated Friday, Mar 27 2009 12:57 PM
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Chad Vegas
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If history is any indication, a powder keg of controversy will likely be ignited tonight at the Kern High School District board meeting when trustee Chad Vegas is set to propose that "In God We Trust" be posted in every classroom in the district.
Vegas said Bakersfield City Councilwoman Jacquie Sullivan's nonprofit organization, In God We Trust — America, Inc., will donate the posters. She proposed the idea to him.
Sullivan said she thinks it is important to inspire the young with patriotism.
"There are those that are trying to remove God from our public life, and I do not think that is right and I think the national motto is important for that reason," Sullivan said in a telephone interview Sunday night.
Sullivan was successful in her bid to get the phrase "In God We Trust" posted in the council chambers of Bakersfield City Hall in 2002 and eventually in getting it into 11 cities in Kern County and 26 cities in the state.
She said 17 states across the nation have already approved the signs in schools.
But KHSD trustee Bob Hampton said he believes this is a bid to insert religion into schools — where he believes it does not belong.
"The spiritual side of the student and the spiritual side of an elected official belong in the home and the church," Hampton said in a phone interview. "Especially, public education is concerned with accountability and we don't need a personal agenda dealing with religion in the public education system."
Vegas is a pastor at and the founder of his own church, Sovereign Grace, which counts 130 to 140 members, Vegas said.
Trustee Ken Mettler said not only would he vote to approve such a measure, but he also proposed such an idea when he was a trustee at Rosedale Union School District. In the end, he said the motto was added to pre-existing collections of historical documents.
"I merely look at it very simply. It is the nation's motto. Why not?" Mettler said Sunday night. He said it is an important part of the nation's history and should be studied.
Mettler and Vegas said they hope this will not become an explosive issue that will soak up a lot of time and attention from school issues.
Vegas chastised the media in Bakersfield for paying more attention to these types of issues than the policy changes being made to improve student achievement.
"It's a sad fact that the media is only interested in covering 'In God We Trust,'" Vegas said.
When Vegas was asked how the children would feel who don't believe in God, he said, "They don't have to believe in God."
Members of the public also have divergent opinions.
"I don't think that by putting 'In God We Trust' will solve the problems we have," said Kelly Tomlinson, 49, a retired medical transcriptionist. "It's just basically words that mean nothing. I think they need to be putting their attention on reading, writing and arithmetic."
Others disagree.
"That whole idea of separation of church and state is a bogus issue," Bakersfield resident Rolly Rhodes said. He believes God has always been an integral part of the nation's fabric.
Others are taking their voice to the board.
"People close to Bush are moving to theocracy," and this is another example, said Jared Thomas, an organizer with the local chapter of The World Can't Wait - Drive Out the Bush Regime.
He said group members are observing what is happening nationally, and they're concerned about a small group of people who are closely allied with Bush who "are trying to recast the history of this country" to advance the president's agenda. He's concerned Vegas' proposal is an attempt to restrict students' critical thinking.
Thomas said at least a few members of the group will be at tonight's KHSD meeting.
Board members Bryan Batey and Joel Heinrichs could not be reached for comment.
How to go
n The board of trustees meets at 7 tonight at the KHSD Administrative and Support Services Office, 5801 Sundale Ave.
