The ACLU has done it again. Here we have a conscientious school board in an Indiana County trying to author and present to their students in six schools 11 "precepts," which it hopes will provide a fair and positive code of conduct. The school board members sought guidance from many sources, including the Ten Commandments.
They took nothing word for word from them. Those principles would help everyone involved to know what kind of behavior is expected of the students in their public schools. The 11 "common precepts" include: "Trust in God," "respect authority," "honor your parents and family members" and "save sex for marriage." This was approved unanimously by the school board in November.It seems obvious that a code of conduct is beneficial, even necessary, for school children. Those precepts mentioned, as well as others, are essential for the orderly progression of students everywhere.
An ACLU lawyer from Indianapolis, named Kenneth Falk, said: "The edict to trust God is clearly a religious notion."
Congratulations to the school board, which said it would post the list in its six schools after Jan. 1. Rod Colson, the president of the school board, said, "We feel very strongly about (the precepts) and think they're defensible. . . . Everybody's agreed (that) we're not backing down."
This foresight and backbone on the part of the school officials in Indiana sounds like the kind of leadership our country needs badly. Let's teach our children the things they need to know and do in order for our young members in society to be an example for good when they become mature citizens.
Kyle B. Sorensen
Salt Lake City