Dear Editor:

A recent letter to the editor called for us to teach “harmony” in our schools. While that may be a laudable goal, particularly in the music department (sorry, I couldn’t resist), I think that it is an attempt at a band-aid on the real problem. What is lacking is far more basic and starts far earlier.

We need to teach a fundamental respect for human life and individual rights and responsibilities. We need to teach the basic principles of right and wrong and the “Golden Rule” right from day one of education and continue through high school. This is something parents should be teaching as well of course.

We should also teach kids to ask themselves to think before they post something online: “Would I be willing to say this to someone’s face?”

This is just a small part of the reform that is needed in our schools. We need to return to all the basics: right and wrong, reading, writing, arithmetic, civics, home economics, shop, music, art, and athletics. We need far fewer administrators, councilors, and bureaucrats. We need to be teaching a strong work ethic, self-dependence, responsibility, and the ability to learn from one’s mistakes. We need to stop the participation trophies and automatic promotions and start giving grades that are truly earned: good, bad, and ugly.

We have seen an alarming growth in the number of people who think that violence and even murder are acceptable ways to express disagreement. This is an unconscionable lack of respect for fundamental human life and individual rights. It is totally unacceptable.

We need to restore the vision of the Founders 250 years ago: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Bill Hunt

Southport and Bath