Oath of office – who do you swear to?

These are edited remarks Curt Hancock made to the Mt. Vernon School Board on Oct.13.

When elected a school board member, each of you swore an oath to uphold the Constitution of the U.S. and of Iowa, and soon some of you will again make that oath.

The 1828 Webster dictionary defines oath as:

“A solemn affirmation or declaration, made with an appeal to God for the truth of what is affirmed.”

The modern Webster definition is:

“A solemn usually formal calling upon God or a god to witness to the truth of what one says or to witness that one sincerely intends to do what one says.”

Who do each of you swear to?

Two years ago when sworn in, you raised your right hand, but your left hand was empty.

One member commented some school boards use the Bible and some a stack of “banned books” and then chuckled.

The school board is in charge of this school district, and for hours a week, this school district is in charge of raising our next generation. What worldview will this rising generation be taught in public school?

That worldview begins with the school board, and we the people should know your worldview because it will get reflected in how you govern. That worldview depends on your governing authority. What do you swear on?

An empty left hand might indicate you swear to no greater power other than yourself.

With God and the Bible removed from public education, maybe you believe there is no higher authority than Government. If so let us know.

So, I ask that this school district provides a Bible when the new school board members are sworn in. Totally voluntary for you to use. No requirement. Then the community knows if you will – or will not – swear on the God of the Bible.

Or, as in the modern definition of oath, if your allegiance is to another god, use that book. Maybe it’s The Origin of Species or the Communist Manifesto or the Quran. Or, maybe, it’s one of the “banned” books such as Gender Queer.

Just let us know who you swear to when you make the Oath of office.

Curt Hancock lives in Mt. Vernon.