Baker's official opinion, received Thursday by the Georgia Department of Education, also said it's not unconstitutional for schools to display posters with the motto "In God We Trust."
The opinion comes five months after People for the American Way, a national civil liberties group, warned it might sue Lumpkin County over the issue. Cobb County school officials also were contacted by civil liberties activists asking how they planned to implement the state's character education law, which calls for teaching 27 traits, including "respect for the creator."
Lumpkin County school officials planned to hangposters displaying the words "In God We Trust." But the county school board held off pending Baker's opinion.
"We feel the AG's opinion gives local school systems the green light to implement the 'respect for the creator' portion of the character education program, and if they wish, to display the 'In God We Trust' U.S. motto in the public school classroom," said Amanda D. Seals, spokeswoman for state School Superintendent Linda Schrenko.
Judith Schaeffer, deputy legal counsel for People for the American Way, said, "We're very disappointed in it (the opinion), because it really doesn't give school districts the guidance they need." Baker, she said, "doesn't leave room for the fact that there are people who don't believe in a creator."
Still, whether a school has crossed the constitutional line will depend on how it teaches "respect for the creator" or uses the poster, she noted. Baker's opinion makes a similar point.
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