Local Students, Lawmaker Debate National Motto Bill

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Local high school students had a chance to debate a bill that would require the national motto to be displayed in all Pennsylvania public schools.

State Rep. Rick Saccone, who authored the National Motto Display Act, talked to students at Avonworth High School Tuesday morning.

"It is our national motto. It's a great Pennsylvania history story and I love telling it and I think our kids love hearing it," Rep. Saccone said.

The students are all seniors in a Problems with Democracy honors class.

"I think it teaches students the history of our national motto and I also think that it reeducates people that there isn't always a strict separation of church and state," Brady Collins said.

Many agreed with Rep. Saccone, but also weren't afraid to ask tough questions.

The bill was recently passed by the House Education Committee. Saccone hopes to take it to the House floor soon.

"I thought that they were very-well versed in the subject. They had great questions. Actually, they had better questions than some of the committee questions I received. So, they did their homework and I thought it was very exciting," Rep. Saccone said.

Students at Avonworth took an informal vote on the issue prior to today's debate.

About 60 percent of students supported the bill.

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