What is the Greatest Commandment?

   Many will reply that to love the Lord God with all our hearts, souls, strength, and mind is the greatest commandment, and to love our neighbor as ourselves is the second greatest. 

   Lilliet Garrison says otherwise.  She espouses that the greatest commandment is to be filled with the Spirit (Eph. 5:18).  When one is filled with the Holy Spirit, he or she is then able to love God and neighbor as one should, and able to keep the rest of the Lord's commandments.  One cannot truly love God, neighbor, or oneself without the filling of the Spirit.  To love without the Spirit's fullness is a work of the flesh, and the works of the flesh profits nothing (John 6:63).  Furthermore, any work done in the flesh, without the Spirit's fullness, cannot please God.   Seek His filling first, then we can love God, others, and ourselves as God intended.  I must say to Lilliet: I concur.

Guns in Schools

   Guns in schools is a growing problem.  Arming administrators and teachers is not the most-viable solution.  School personnel already carry a heavy responsibility: the education of our children.  Unfortunately, several school employees who have undergone strict training in the proper use of guns have accidental suffered self-infliction, as well as unintended injury to innocent people. 

   The root of this problem is: the loss of value of the sanctity of life.  As long as youth do not value life, they will continue to injure and kill.

   The cure is moral.  Parents at home and teachers in schools must exemplify and teach values.  Teachers must be hired, not only because of their academic achievements, but also for personal integrity.  They interact with their students an average of 170 days in a year.  Consciously or not, students emulate their teachers to some degree.

   There are three Biblical reasons for justifiable killing: war, capital punishment, and self-defense.  Children must be explicitly taught that any other reason for killing is murder.

   Schools must inculcate moral values of right and wrong to their students.  Without moral training, our children will grow up void of a moral compass, and crime among our youth will only escalate. 

   The answer is not more seminars, rules, government regulations, and higher taxes for security and metal detectors.  The answer is the return to our Judeo-Christian principles, including the emphasis of the 10 Commandments.  After all, the ills of our society (i.e., hatred, racial discrimination, murder, theft, rape and kidnapping) are moral.  Solve the root of the crime, and you solve the symptoms and its manifestations.

   And naturally, these values and virtues must be lived out, beginning from the most high-ranking education official: from the school superintendent down to all employees. 

California Public Education

   There was a time when public schools throughout the land would recite the Pledge of Allegiance.  Today, in most California public schools, this is no longer the case.  Teachers may voluntarily choose to recite them with their students, but many do not for fear of reprisal.  Reasons given for aborting the Pledge of Allegiance are: the words "under God" are an endorsement of religion; it is offensive to non-Christians; takes time away from classroom instruction; does not increase a child's loyalty to his or her country; does not improve academic performance; and minors cannot pledge anything due to their age. 

   We have become a nation afraid to take a stand because it is not politically correct.  We fear offending others.

   As a nation, we must know who we are and where we came from.  Only then can we take a stand with confidence and right on our side.  Our country was established under Judeo-Christian principles.  These principles have not been abrogated.  We still uphold these basic principles, as they are endorsed by both the U.S. and state constitutions.

   An immigrant belonging to another faith entering our shores must understand that our roots are Judeo-Christian.  While they may not believe in these essentials, they must respect us who believe and endorse them.  We must not as a nation vacate our basic rights to the belief of God because it does not agree with others.  Those of other faiths must respect our beliefs because that is who we are.  Similarly, I must respect their beliefs if I was to visit their countries.

   The public school is obligated, not only to teach academic subjects, but also loyalty to our nation.  We are a country blessed by the Almighty.  And what better way is there to display our loyalty to America than through the Pledge of Allegiance?  Reciting these words will instill patriotism, for words have intrinsic power.

   Whether or not parents implant patriotism in their homes, schools must.  Public schools are mandated to teach children a love for learning and country.  Let us reinstate the Pledge of Allegiance in California public schools, and teach each child the rich meaning of these words.

   This paper is not a critique on California public school teachers, administrators, and staff.  They are devoted to their profession, and I have the highest regard for them.  I applaud their dedication.  This paper is, rather, a personal insight on evaluating the trajectory of our public school system, and a humble recommendation.