Acceptable classroom behavior is declining

In my years in teaching and as a parent, I have noticed a decline in acceptable behavior in the classroom since the elimination of “The Ten Commandments” from the K-12 schools. The Ten Commandments clearly and simply teach children proper behavior. For example:

l Honor thy father and thy mother. That is, a student should respect their parents.

l Thou shalt not kill. No explanation needed.

l Thou shalt not steal. That is, a student should not steal from others.

l Thou shalt not bear false witness. That is, a student should not lie.

l Thou shalt not covet. That is, a student should not enviously desire what belongs to another.

When the Ten Commandments were removed as governing/behavior rules from the schools, the bureaucrats/administrators replaced them with “zero tolerance.” Thus, the school administrators replaced simple and clear rules with whatever a school administrator decided at the moment was defined as zero tolerance. Thus, God was replaced by the bureaucrats/administrators/school boards. It is no wonder that school children have no clear sense of established rules of behavior.

Parents at home can teach behavior according to the simple rules of their family and faith, but students become confused with rules of zero tolerance promulgated by well-intentioned administrators/school boards attempting to replace God. It is no wonder our school system has deteriorated over the years.

Gary C. Young

Cedar Rapids