Creeds, Rules, and Promises

More and more, schools are turning to creeds, rules, and promises to fill the void left when organized religion was removed from the classroom.

Clubs and organizations routinely express their values. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), for example, has its rules about amateurism and competitive balance. (Above) Jalen Brunson of the Villanova Wildcats raises the trophy and celebrates with his teammates after defeating the Michigan Wolverines during the 2018 NCAA Men's Final Four National Championship game in in San Antonio, Texas, on April 2, 2018. TOM PENNINGTON/GETTY IMAGES

Every time there is a news story about a young person who did something that revealed a lack of moral grounding, the argument is made that prayer or the Bible needs to be brought back into the classroom. The premise of the argument is that children learn their values in school and that religion is a necessary component of that education. That may be an appealing response to a difficult question, but it is not the right answer.

I am a religious person and am very involved in the Catholic Church. I encourage others to join me, or to join another house of worship. My motivation is not solely an effort to bring others to eternal salvation; I think this world would be a better place if everyone regularly prayed and attended services.