Letter: America must define morals

Wednesday, Aug. 18, 1999 | 9:47 a.m.

The answer is quite simple. First, our educators in grades K-12 and our legislative representatives are intellectually lazy. Secondly, they are intimidated and fearful of our own Supreme Court and that body's interpretation of the constitutional requirement for a separation of church and state. The educators teach reading, writing and arithmetic, but nothing about moral philosophy or conduct as part of a curriculum. They are afraid to do so because they fear the legal consequences.

They are intellectually lazy because they have accepted the premise that moral philosophy and conduct cannot be taught without violating the constitution.

Our legislators are guilty of the same offenses and are afraid to enact legislation that would earmark funds to develop a curriculum to teach moral philosophy and conduct.

Will our educators and legislators accept this challenge, and will we as a society join them in this struggle to define America's moral philosophy? The answer will determine our fate and whether we are truly ready to deal with violence in America.

DAVID BAKER

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