A Texas elementary school decided to use an image of a US five cent coin for the cover of their yearbook—but removed the “offensive” words “In God We Trust:” Coin image omits ‘In God We Trust’. (Hat tip: GWH.)

A Keller school district parent said political correctness has run amok at her daughter’s elementary school, where the principal chose to omit the words “In God We Trust” from an oversize coin depicted on the yearbook cover.

Janet Travis, principal of Liberty Elementary School in Colleyville, wanted to avoid offending students of different religions, a district spokesman said. Students were given stickers with the words that could be affixed to the book if they so chose.

Debi Ackerman of North Richland Hills said she is offended by the omission. It’s yet another example of a politically correct culture that is removing Christian references from all public places, she said. …

Officials chose an image of an enlarged nickel for the yearbook cover because this is Liberty Elementary’s first year and because the nickel has a new design this year. The nickel design features President Jefferson and the word Liberty in cursive, with the words “In God We Trust” along the right edge.

Keller administrators agreed with the decision, which Travis made in conjunction with a school parents group, district spokesman Jason Meyer said. District policy states, in part: “The District shall take no action respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech.” Principals must strive to remain neutral regarding religion, Meyer said. “It’s not always easy to make everybody happy when we are making decisions,” he said. He said Travis was unavailable for comment Friday.

Michael Linz, a Dallas attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union, said the district’s move was appropriate, sensitive and constitutional.

As if this weren’t bad enough, the edited coin image was chosen because other options were even more offensive. Options like the Liberty Bell and the Statue of Liberty.

Many parents have said they like the $16 yearbook, which chronicles the school’s inaugural year, said Tom Gardner of Colleyville, president of the Liberty PTA. Parents donated photos of events, he said.

Ackerman suggested that the school could have used a different symbol for liberty, such as the Liberty Bell or the Statue of Liberty, if it was concerned about giving offense. But Gardner said those symbols may not be acceptable to everyone, either.

“We are a public school,” he said. “We sure do not want to step on anybody’s toes. I don’t think any harm was intended.”

The name of this school: Liberty Elementary School.

UPDATE at 5/21/06 11:06:56 am: