In God We Trust sign prominently posted in FCPS Middle School main office

[Anonymous]

One nation. Under God. Any atheist family here with children who are reluctant to say the pledge of allegiance because of “under God” like mine? A few days after school started, our room teacher reported that DC told classmates “There is no God” during pledge time. We then had a talk about mutual respect between people with and without faith.

[Anonymous]

Never read your money

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One nation. Under God. Any atheist family here with children who are reluctant to say the pledge of allegiance because of “under God” like mine? A few days after school started, our room teacher reported that DC told classmates “There is no God” during pledge time. We then had a talk about mutual respect between people with and without faith.

Yep. OP here. My kids don't say that part. And not because I've forbid them, but because they are not comfortable with it. I did the same as a kid (although I made a big deal about it and sat down during the pledge just to make a point -- they haven't done that yet).

But that doesn't bother me as much as the sign in the main office. It feels like the institutional authority is implicitly not on your side or something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One nation. Under God. Any atheist family here with children who are reluctant to say the pledge of allegiance because of “under God” like mine? A few days after school started, our room teacher reported that DC told classmates “There is no God” during pledge time. We then had a talk about mutual respect between people with and without faith.

I never say any of it because it’s creepy. But I generally stand quietly.

I also don’t close my eyes or bow my head if people are “praying”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_national_motto#:~:text=The%20modern%20motto%20of%20the,on%20U.S.%20coins%20in%201864.

It's the national motto as well.

and

Virginia requires it's display.

Further evidence that VA is a sh1thole. Getting sh1ttier by the day with Youngkin.

That was passed by Governor Warner, a democrat and our current senator.

Doesn't make it any less of a sh1tty law.

Like I said, VA is a sh1thole. And getting sh1ttier by the day with Youngkin.

You’re a hypocritical moron. Go back to across the Potomac River if you hate the laws that were passed here decades ago and can’t seem to tolerate them.

Counting down the days until I move away. It’s way too backward here - and moving in the wrong direction.

Maybe someday VA will join the 21st century.

Back to Maryland or the Northeast I’m guessing?

You’re curious where civilized, educated people live?

Why do so many people choose to move to NoVa over Montgomery county?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I walked into the office to pick up my daughter yesterday and noticed an 8.5 x 11 sign stating "In God We Trust" in a prominent location in the main office.

This seems at best inappropriate and at worst like a brazen attempt to bring personal religious beliefs into a public space (unfortunately I do think it is legal). I happen to know, because of the Principal's Instagram account, that she is extremely religious. I respect her personal beliefs and her right to express them in a private context.

But as someone who has carefully raised their children without religion and God, this sign is offensive to me. Whether or not it is intentional, it effectively others and intimidates constituents of that school who don't believe in God. Even if it only offends a few people, isn't that enough? Why is this necessary?

I know. It's on our money and it's in the pledge, but my kids can opt to not say the God part in the pledge. They can't opt not to go into the main office.

I filled out a discrimination complaint online, but I doubt anything will come of it (there are certainly more immediate issues in that arena for that office to address).

I am considering writing a kind and good faith note to the principal from an anonymous email address. Any (kind and in good faith) thoughts on that approach or ideas for ways to resolve this without backlash against my kids?

Thanks.

Are you a nut job?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One nation. Under God. Any atheist family here with children who are reluctant to say the pledge of allegiance because of “under God” like mine? A few days after school started, our room teacher reported that DC told classmates “There is no God” during pledge time. We then had a talk about mutual respect between people with and without faith.

I never say any of it because it’s creepy. But I generally stand quietly.

I also don’t close my eyes or bow my head if people are “praying”.

Same here.

In God we Trust was added to coins in 1860s and paper money 1955. Just because it was added doesnt mean it needs to stay there.

[Anonymous]

History of IGWT
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_God_We_Trust#:~:text=of%20the%20image.-,Federal%20government,a%20de%20facto%20official%20motto.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_national_motto#:~:text=The%20modern%20motto%20of%20the,on%20U.S.%20coins%20in%201864.

It's the national motto as well.

and

Virginia requires it's display.

Further evidence that VA is a sh1thole. Getting sh1ttier by the day with Youngkin.

That was passed by Governor Warner, a democrat and our current senator.

Doesn't make it any less of a sh1tty law.

Like I said, VA is a sh1thole. And getting sh1ttier by the day with Youngkin.

You’re a hypocritical moron. Go back to across the Potomac River if you hate the laws that were passed here decades ago and can’t seem to tolerate them.

Counting down the days until I move away. It’s way too backward here - and moving in the wrong direction.

Maybe someday VA will join the 21st century.

Back to Maryland or the Northeast I’m guessing?

You’re curious where civilized, educated people live?

Why do so many people choose to move to NoVa over Montgomery county?

Because it’s basically moco with it jobs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_national_motto#:~:text=The%20modern%20motto%20of%20the,on%20U.S.%20coins%20in%201864.

It's the national motto as well.

and

Virginia requires it's display.

Further evidence that VA is a sh1thole. Getting sh1ttier by the day with Youngkin.

That was passed by Governor Warner, a democrat and our current senator.

Doesn't make it any less of a sh1tty law.

Like I said, VA is a sh1thole. And getting sh1ttier by the day with Youngkin.

You’re a hypocritical moron. Go back to across the Potomac River if you hate the laws that were passed here decades ago and can’t seem to tolerate them.

Counting down the days until I move away. It’s way too backward here - and moving in the wrong direction.

Maybe someday VA will join the 21st century.

Back to Maryland or the Northeast I’m guessing?

You’re curious where civilized, educated people live?

Why do so many people choose to move to NoVa over Montgomery county?

Commute, job location, taxes. Both have mostly large unwieldy county wide public school districts. Hence the popular choices of tiny Falls Church City and Fairfax City or the relatively smaller APS. MoCo and DC are loaded with private schools compared to NOVA.

VA is in the 21st century. Some don't like the USA flag at schools and classrooms. That includes an official flag pole. Some don't like anything for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Valentines Day. US schools used to have generic May Day. Now it's Cinqo de Mayo - a battle in Mexico against France. https://www.insider.com/cinco-de-mayo-differences-in-the-us-and-mexico-2018-5#in-the-us-mexican-americans-started-observing-cinco-de-mayo-during-the-civil-war-as-a-way-to-celebrate-their-heritage-2

[Anonymous]

Just wait till OP finds out FCPS takes off for religious holidays.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I walked into the office to pick up my daughter yesterday and noticed an 8.5 x 11 sign stating "In God We Trust" in a prominent location in the main office.

This seems at best inappropriate and at worst like a brazen attempt to bring personal religious beliefs into a public space (unfortunately I do think it is legal). I happen to know, because of the Principal's Instagram account, that she is extremely religious. I respect her personal beliefs and her right to express them in a private context.

But as someone who has carefully raised their children without religion and God, this sign is offensive to me. Whether or not it is intentional, it effectively others and intimidates constituents of that school who don't believe in God. Even if it only offends a few people, isn't that enough? Why is this necessary?

I know. It's on our money and it's in the pledge, but my kids can opt to not say the God part in the pledge. They can't opt not to go into the main office.

I filled out a discrimination complaint online, but I doubt anything will come of it (there are certainly more immediate issues in that arena for that office to address).

I am considering writing a kind and good faith note to the principal from an anonymous email address. Any (kind and in good faith) thoughts on that approach or ideas for ways to resolve this without backlash against my kids?

Thanks.

Are you a nut job?

No, I'm not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I walked into the office to pick up my daughter yesterday and noticed an 8.5 x 11 sign stating "In God We Trust" in a prominent location in the main office.

This seems at best inappropriate and at worst like a brazen attempt to bring personal religious beliefs into a public space (unfortunately I do think it is legal). I happen to know, because of the Principal's Instagram account, that she is extremely religious. I respect her personal beliefs and her right to express them in a private context.

But as someone who has carefully raised their children without religion and God, this sign is offensive to me. Whether or not it is intentional, it effectively others and intimidates constituents of that school who don't believe in God. Even if it only offends a few people, isn't that enough? Why is this necessary?

I know. It's on our money and it's in the pledge, but my kids can opt to not say the God part in the pledge. They can't opt not to go into the main office.

I filled out a discrimination complaint online, but I doubt anything will come of it (there are certainly more immediate issues in that arena for that office to address).

I am considering writing a kind and good faith note to the principal from an anonymous email address. Any (kind and in good faith) thoughts on that approach or ideas for ways to resolve this without backlash against my kids?

Thanks.

It’s something ALL schools in VA are required to do. Look it up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I noticed the same thing in my kid's Arlington Middle School. I find it inappropriate. Wish I didn't live in a state where this is the law.

Move across the Potomac River then. It’s your fault that you can’t adjust to the laws of this southern state, and if you don’t like it you can leave. Simple.

I taught my kid not to say the pledge nor to stand for it. It makes it even better that it pisses off southerners like you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ugh.

I come from a Catholic country that has a very firm distance between Church and state, where every effort has been made to keep public schools free of religion. This would make me very uncomfortable.

Good thing no one is forcing you to be in the U.S.