LOUISVILLE, Ky. — An Indiana school district has avoided a legal battle by removing the phrase “Trust in God” from a list of moral precepts that have been posted in the district’s schools.
The Indiana Civil Liberties Union (ICLU) has decided not to carry out its threat to file a lawsuit against the school system after the board voted unanimously Jan. 11 not to include the phrase.
Removing the “obvious reference to God … made it unlikely that we’d prevail in any litigation,” said Ken Falk, the ICLU’s legal director.
Superintendent Rob Hooker drafted the precepts in an effort to promote a more civil, moral school atmosphere. He considered the then 11 principles to be an alternative to posting the Ten Commandments. The board voted last fall to post the Ten Commandments, but changed its mind after being warned of possible legal challenges.
The approved precepts feature 10 pennies preceding each principle. The words “In God We Trust” on each penny are hard to read.
By Jan. 12, all five of the schools had posted the 10 principles, which include “Save sex for marriage,’ “Tell the truth,” “Respect authority,” and “Honor your parents and family members.”
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