North County discusses graduation rate, attendance
School to put special school bond election on the April 7 ballot
By TERESA RESSEL
Daily Journal Staff Writer
Daily Journal Staff Writer
North County school board members and administrators recognize members of the softball team during the school board meeting Thursday night. - Teresa Ressel / Daily Journal
Attendance scores continue to increase but the graduation rate continues to drop at North County.
During the school board meeting Thursday night, Associate Superintendent Mike Henderson talked about the district's 2008 Annual Performance Report, which is like a report card for a school district. The district is evaluated on 14 standards.
Henderson said the district met 11 of the 14 standards, which was good.
The district did not meet the standard for graduation rate.
The graduation rate has dropped each year in the five-year period. In 2004, the graduation rate was 85.8 percent. In 2007, it was 78.4 percent. In 2008, it was 75.3 percent.
Associate Superintendent Mike Henderson said they have tried programs to improve the graduation rate and they will continue to look outside the box to improve.
While they didn’t meet the standard in average daily attendance, Henderson said their rate increased and that was good news. The district has struggled with its attendance rate for several years and has made improvements staying between 92 and 94 percent the last five years. It jumped from 93 percent in 2007 to 93.4 percent in 2008. They would have met the standard if it had increased a tenth of a percent more, Henderson said.
Henderson said AlertNow is one thing that is helping with attendance. It notifies parents when their child is absent from school.
In other matters, the board approved a resolution calling for a special school bond election on the April 7 ballot. The board will be asking voters to approve a no-tax increase bond issue to build a new Desloge elementary school. Four-sevenths of the votes will be needed.
Superintendent Dr. Yancy Poorman said they are still in the baby stages of the plan.
On Thursday, district officials heard proposals from three construction management companies.
The first was Brockmiller Construction of Farmington, which was partnering with Kromm, Rikimaru and Johansen. There was CCS Group of Chesterfield and CTS of Ellisville, which was partnering with Grojean Architects.
Brockmiller and Kromm representatives discussed their construction experience with area schools and the St. Francois County Courthouse Annex.
CCS is a project management firm and representatives said they were consultants, not contractors, who would be an unbiased advocate for the district. They said they would help the district make the right decisions. A Gasconade superintendent spoke as a reference saying the firm saved them thousands of dollars.
CTS with Grojean was the only group to present a preliminary drawing of the new school. They said they would be involved in every step, including the marketing of the bond issue campaign.
The board could approve a construction management company as early as the next school board meeting.
Assistant Superintendent Mike Jarvis discussed recess at Parkside Elementary. He said the change in recess came about because teachers wanted more time in class. He said the students do have a lot of opportunity for breaks during the day.
A physical education teacher there spoke about using a trailer when the gym is being used for assemblies. She said the students like it and it has worked out better than she thought it would.
Also during the meeting, members of the softball team were recognized.
School Board President Keith Bannister said so far about 350 North County students are signed up for St. Francois County Community Partnership's Season of Hope. It is expected there will be 400 from North County school district on the list. He challenged members of the audience to help make a student's Christmas better.
Teresa Ressel is a reporter for the Daily Journal and can be reached at 573-431-2010, ext. 179 or at tressel@dailyjournalonline.com.
During the school board meeting Thursday night, Associate Superintendent Mike Henderson talked about the district's 2008 Annual Performance Report, which is like a report card for a school district. The district is evaluated on 14 standards.
Henderson said the district met 11 of the 14 standards, which was good.
The district did not meet the standard for graduation rate.
The graduation rate has dropped each year in the five-year period. In 2004, the graduation rate was 85.8 percent. In 2007, it was 78.4 percent. In 2008, it was 75.3 percent.
Associate Superintendent Mike Henderson said they have tried programs to improve the graduation rate and they will continue to look outside the box to improve.
While they didn’t meet the standard in average daily attendance, Henderson said their rate increased and that was good news. The district has struggled with its attendance rate for several years and has made improvements staying between 92 and 94 percent the last five years. It jumped from 93 percent in 2007 to 93.4 percent in 2008. They would have met the standard if it had increased a tenth of a percent more, Henderson said.
Henderson said AlertNow is one thing that is helping with attendance. It notifies parents when their child is absent from school.
In other matters, the board approved a resolution calling for a special school bond election on the April 7 ballot. The board will be asking voters to approve a no-tax increase bond issue to build a new Desloge elementary school. Four-sevenths of the votes will be needed.
Superintendent Dr. Yancy Poorman said they are still in the baby stages of the plan.
On Thursday, district officials heard proposals from three construction management companies.
The first was Brockmiller Construction of Farmington, which was partnering with Kromm, Rikimaru and Johansen. There was CCS Group of Chesterfield and CTS of Ellisville, which was partnering with Grojean Architects.
Brockmiller and Kromm representatives discussed their construction experience with area schools and the St. Francois County Courthouse Annex.
CCS is a project management firm and representatives said they were consultants, not contractors, who would be an unbiased advocate for the district. They said they would help the district make the right decisions. A Gasconade superintendent spoke as a reference saying the firm saved them thousands of dollars.
CTS with Grojean was the only group to present a preliminary drawing of the new school. They said they would be involved in every step, including the marketing of the bond issue campaign.
The board could approve a construction management company as early as the next school board meeting.
Assistant Superintendent Mike Jarvis discussed recess at Parkside Elementary. He said the change in recess came about because teachers wanted more time in class. He said the students do have a lot of opportunity for breaks during the day.
A physical education teacher there spoke about using a trailer when the gym is being used for assemblies. She said the students like it and it has worked out better than she thought it would.
Also during the meeting, members of the softball team were recognized.
School Board President Keith Bannister said so far about 350 North County students are signed up for St. Francois County Community Partnership's Season of Hope. It is expected there will be 400 from North County school district on the list. He challenged members of the audience to help make a student's Christmas better.
Teresa Ressel is a reporter for the Daily Journal and can be reached at 573-431-2010, ext. 179 or at tressel@dailyjournalonline.com.
More Headlines: Police dog tracks suspect to highway | Father follows daughter to prison
Ads by Yahoo!
Obama Backs Insurance Regulation
Drivers Pay $44/mo on Avg for Car Insurance. Are you paying too much?
Auto-Insurance-Experts.com
Reader Comments (23)The comments below are from readers and do not represent the views of the Daily Journal
PoliSci posted on Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008 at 4:43 pm
Again, religion has no place in public schools. If you want to teach them fiction you have the choice to send them to a private school. Good teachers barely have enough time, within a period, to get to the material they need to cover and reinforce it. They don't need to waste time on fundamentally flawed jargon or dogma that has no factual basis. You would make them better citizens by teaching them about Civics & Current Events. Also, there is a really good article in this months issue of Time magazine about the state of our public schools. It's a worthwhile read.
tiredofthebull posted on Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008 at 10:03 am
Anolmous - im against DOC education, bring back the chain gangs.
Against govt. funded satelite schools - what. don't worry about math and science, here, just turn this wrench... the heck with that.
Time for some old school values, some religion, some parents to step up and discipline their kids. Take away the PLayStation if the kids are in trouble.
Against govt. funded satelite schools - what. don't worry about math and science, here, just turn this wrench... the heck with that.
Time for some old school values, some religion, some parents to step up and discipline their kids. Take away the PLayStation if the kids are in trouble.
PoliSci posted on Thursday, November 27th, 2008 at 11:33 am
Being a former educator I know first hand that athlete's are not held to the same standards that other kids are. If they are any good the other students will let them copy, cheat, and some teachers will cut them slack to get them the grades they need to play. What it comes down to is this. If you want to keep the best teachers in the field they're going to have to be paid more. Think of it as an investment in the country's future, and not only will you keep those teachers but you will recruit even better. Instead, you all are getting what you pay for, plain and simple. You've got teachers in fields they're not certified for because their family works on the school board, or basic nepotism, and it shows. I agree with Anomolous as well in that parents need to be held accountable. The amount of insubordination in schools today is ridiculous and they need to bring back corporal punishment. Instead they seek to medicate every kid that won't sit down, and it's not because of ADD/ADHD it's because they lack discipline at home. It's been a steadily sinking ship that's getting worse.
tomisty posted on Wednesday, November 26th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
I know this is totally off of the subject, but can someone please help the district come up with a better pick up area at Parkside Elementary? O My Goodness it is an absolute crazy mess over there. Cars are parked on the wrong side of the street after school causing other traffic to go in the wrong lane which causes a complete mess.
old cynic posted on Wednesday, November 26th, 2008 at 12:42 am
I think it may have been awhile since "The Professor" has been in school. What the tests do test are worthwhile skills that involve problem solving skills, critical thinking, an ability to communicate, and an ability to apply what they have learned. Schools are doing a much better job preparing kids than ever. The problem is in Missouri's evaluations. Missouri children are doing quite well compared to other states, but the state is allowed to establish their own standards and the standards are somewhat unrealistic.
As far as your knock on athletics v. academics, I think you are wrong again. It is not the athletes who are scoring low on tests and dropping out of school. Students who are involved in activities, do much better in school.
All schools do a good job of recognizing children for academic achievement. Read the article in the DJ on the 25th about Bismarck Public Schools doing that very thing. Schools do have trophy cases for academic competitions.
Schools are many times better today than 40 years ago. Society is not, and that is where the problem lies.
As far as your knock on athletics v. academics, I think you are wrong again. It is not the athletes who are scoring low on tests and dropping out of school. Students who are involved in activities, do much better in school.
All schools do a good job of recognizing children for academic achievement. Read the article in the DJ on the 25th about Bismarck Public Schools doing that very thing. Schools do have trophy cases for academic competitions.
Schools are many times better today than 40 years ago. Society is not, and that is where the problem lies.
anomalouspropagation posted on Tuesday, November 25th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
We already throw away kids and I never said that- I said CAST them off. Being the Christian, I'll refer you to Biblical teaching TOTB. Adam and Eve, the prodigal son and mankind has been CAST off.
We in America go one step better and it is called institutionalization.
TOTB and his bleeding Republican heart begs for smaller Gov't but I bet he is all for "Satellite" schools, "Alternative" schools, MLC, etc.
This gives Welfare to his likes-a.k.a. Civil Servants/Merit Test takers a Gov't handout called a paycheck. But for every dollar of "at risk" money he wants spent he is against funding the top 10% equally, increased taxes for city operated utilities and the like.
You hold parents responsible and raise the bar for our children and our future you will get results. I guess if we put a little Christian education in there we might get to the level of our foregn counterparts.
By the way TOTB-when you didn't want to learn did your dad spare to rod and beat you incessantly or did you get stupid after you moved out of Farmington? Wanna educate criminals next? DOC PHD.
We in America go one step better and it is called institutionalization.
TOTB and his bleeding Republican heart begs for smaller Gov't but I bet he is all for "Satellite" schools, "Alternative" schools, MLC, etc.
This gives Welfare to his likes-a.k.a. Civil Servants/Merit Test takers a Gov't handout called a paycheck. But for every dollar of "at risk" money he wants spent he is against funding the top 10% equally, increased taxes for city operated utilities and the like.
You hold parents responsible and raise the bar for our children and our future you will get results. I guess if we put a little Christian education in there we might get to the level of our foregn counterparts.
By the way TOTB-when you didn't want to learn did your dad spare to rod and beat you incessantly or did you get stupid after you moved out of Farmington? Wanna educate criminals next? DOC PHD.
T-Bone posted on Tuesday, November 25th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
So, professor, these kids you want to educate for the 21st century won't be able to work math problems on a test? Is that what you are saying? I still don't see why if you have relevant questions on the test, why it can't measure how much you have learned in school. Please educate me professor, I guess I don't get it because I'm a product of public education.
TheProfessor posted on Tuesday, November 25th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
As far as the NCLB goes, the teachers know it is useless. The administrators know it is useless, but the government mandates this testing. Why? Becuase most of the people out there are anti-intellectual and don't value learnng for learning's sake. They want to see outcomes assessments. They want to know that teachers are giving them something tangible for their money.
This covers up the real problem with public education - it is based on a 19th century model of literacy acquisition that was designed to produce obedient factory workers (those trady bells resemble the work whistles of the factory, don't they). We are using a 19th century model of education to try and prepare students for the 21st century. That's like cutting wood with a crosscut saw when you could get the job done much more efficiently with a chain saw.
When the public schools turn out a subject that is perfectly suited for 19th century industrial work (and they do that well), we cry foul because the students are not prepared to function in the 21st century. Instead of fixing the real problem, we test them.
This covers up the real problem with public education - it is based on a 19th century model of literacy acquisition that was designed to produce obedient factory workers (those trady bells resemble the work whistles of the factory, don't they). We are using a 19th century model of education to try and prepare students for the 21st century. That's like cutting wood with a crosscut saw when you could get the job done much more efficiently with a chain saw.
When the public schools turn out a subject that is perfectly suited for 19th century industrial work (and they do that well), we cry foul because the students are not prepared to function in the 21st century. Instead of fixing the real problem, we test them.
Zip Line posted on Tuesday, November 25th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
TOTB
The welfare is coming under our "president elect"!
The welfare is coming under our "president elect"!
TheProfessor posted on Tuesday, November 25th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
Anti-intellectualism is one of the major problems with education. We glorify athletes and celebrities and spend little time talking about the Albert Einsteins Thomas Edisons and Stephen Hawkings of the world. Why work hard in school and strive to become a world class scientist or author? No one values them as much as P Diddy,Paris Hilton,Pujols or Bulger. At least I imagine that's what kids must think. I imagine there is a trophy case full of championships at the school for athletics. What about the math team or the academic decathalon team? Where do they fit in?
If the schools celebrate athletics more than academics and the parents are anti-intellectuals as well, then it should come as no surprise that the students don't value what is going on in the schools. What is happening outside the schools with P Diddy and Brangelina must be more important. After all, Mom has that People magazine with all that stuff in there. No one buys Newsweek or US News. Who cares about Robert Reich anyway? He's just one of those stuffy elitist professors from Berkeley.
If the schools celebrate athletics more than academics and the parents are anti-intellectuals as well, then it should come as no surprise that the students don't value what is going on in the schools. What is happening outside the schools with P Diddy and Brangelina must be more important. After all, Mom has that People magazine with all that stuff in there. No one buys Newsweek or US News. Who cares about Robert Reich anyway? He's just one of those stuffy elitist professors from Berkeley.
tiredofthebull posted on Tuesday, November 25th, 2008 at 9:44 am
anolmous - Great thoughts - let's just throw kids away.
Maybe instead, let's encourage parents to take repsonsibility for their own selves and for their children.
It starts in the home, not the schools. Too many people depend on the public school systems to eductate their kids and expect schools to work miracles.
Wake up people. They are your kids. Teach them right and teach them well.
Let's hope there aren't more people that think we should just throw kids away because they don't want to learn.
What an idiot.
Maybe we can all say the heck with school and we'll all just live on welfare.
Maybe instead, let's encourage parents to take repsonsibility for their own selves and for their children.
It starts in the home, not the schools. Too many people depend on the public school systems to eductate their kids and expect schools to work miracles.
Wake up people. They are your kids. Teach them right and teach them well.
Let's hope there aren't more people that think we should just throw kids away because they don't want to learn.
What an idiot.
Maybe we can all say the heck with school and we'll all just live on welfare.
T-Bone posted on Tuesday, November 25th, 2008 at 8:27 am
Exactly what items are on this test? Surely its material that should be taught, if not, change the test. It seems whenever you try to hold the education system accountable, there is all this push from educators against it. Is there a better way than testing the students to see if they have learned? I have never seen this test but like I said, if its a bad test, change it, but I would think the students need to be tested to see if they actually are learning.
anomalouspropagation posted on Monday, November 24th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
We have report cards on parenting-"incarceration".
I think it is clear that we need skilled "service" sector employees but burger flipping isn't skilled.
We need a service industry as well-ever had the brushes replaced on an alternator in the last 25 years?
Can't get that done or any basic repair. We are a throw away society with built in obsoletion. As a loborer in college and in life I find that work "unsuitable". However, I'm a heck of alot more skilled than CSM Mary at Wal-Mart and never took a class on that either!
As for graduation rates-they are indicative of school attendance not knowledge gained. Sit in a grammar class in any post secondary school and you will see that "I'se gots my degree an nun uv mi techars new me well enuff 2 kare about mi homlif an dey r dummyiez."
Education is NOT a right and it is treated as a Right in America. Show me anywhere in the Constitution that even implies the Federal gov't has an inkling of responsibility for funding!
If kids want to learn, teach them-if not cast them off like a tick!
I think it is clear that we need skilled "service" sector employees but burger flipping isn't skilled.
We need a service industry as well-ever had the brushes replaced on an alternator in the last 25 years?
Can't get that done or any basic repair. We are a throw away society with built in obsoletion. As a loborer in college and in life I find that work "unsuitable". However, I'm a heck of alot more skilled than CSM Mary at Wal-Mart and never took a class on that either!
As for graduation rates-they are indicative of school attendance not knowledge gained. Sit in a grammar class in any post secondary school and you will see that "I'se gots my degree an nun uv mi techars new me well enuff 2 kare about mi homlif an dey r dummyiez."
Education is NOT a right and it is treated as a Right in America. Show me anywhere in the Constitution that even implies the Federal gov't has an inkling of responsibility for funding!
If kids want to learn, teach them-if not cast them off like a tick!
staterod posted on Monday, November 24th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
ZIPLINE you hit this one right on the head, you must be related to or know someone in teaching. Good Job!
tiredofthebull posted on Monday, November 24th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
parents in detention? Sorry, yes parents need to be accountable for their childrens' education, but making them sit in detention is about as stupid as a screen door on a submarine. Of course, considering the source...
Parents need to step up and BE PARENTS at home. Demand to see homework, good grades, stay off drugs, keep their kids off drugs... make the kids work to earn the 500 dollars a week allowance..
Get rid of PS3's and XBOX's.. back to old school values, church on Sunday's, chores on Saturdays..
Want better graduation rates? It starts at home, not the schools...
Parents in detention.... I can't stop laughing...
What's next, a report card for Mommy and Daddy?????
Can't wait to ask my kids if Mommy got a gold star in school today..
Parents need to step up and BE PARENTS at home. Demand to see homework, good grades, stay off drugs, keep their kids off drugs... make the kids work to earn the 500 dollars a week allowance..
Get rid of PS3's and XBOX's.. back to old school values, church on Sunday's, chores on Saturdays..
Want better graduation rates? It starts at home, not the schools...
Parents in detention.... I can't stop laughing...
What's next, a report card for Mommy and Daddy?????
Can't wait to ask my kids if Mommy got a gold star in school today..
tiredofthebull posted on Monday, November 24th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Old Cynic - gotta call ya out on 2 items ------
1)Bonne Terre Police did NOT find any drugs in North County, so that is an invalid argment.. the DJ posted the story so it's true.
2)Comparing Clayton to Bonne Terre is like comparing Harvard University to Mineral Area College. Duh...
As to the "TEST"... yes, all school districts teach it nationwide - it's how they get federal funding. No need to state the obvious, they are so busy teaching the federal govt's "no child left behind" they are neglecting the real educational needs of our children.
Anolmous - economic rules dictate we have lower, middle, and upper class... usually these can be distinguished on education. Somebody has to flip your Big Mac. This country is currently debating the "too many MBA's and not enough RN's" as one of the reasons of the financial system collapse.
Can't have em all at the top tier... it's economics 101 buddy..
1)Bonne Terre Police did NOT find any drugs in North County, so that is an invalid argment.. the DJ posted the story so it's true.
2)Comparing Clayton to Bonne Terre is like comparing Harvard University to Mineral Area College. Duh...
As to the "TEST"... yes, all school districts teach it nationwide - it's how they get federal funding. No need to state the obvious, they are so busy teaching the federal govt's "no child left behind" they are neglecting the real educational needs of our children.
Anolmous - economic rules dictate we have lower, middle, and upper class... usually these can be distinguished on education. Somebody has to flip your Big Mac. This country is currently debating the "too many MBA's and not enough RN's" as one of the reasons of the financial system collapse.
Can't have em all at the top tier... it's economics 101 buddy..
anomalouspropagation posted on Monday, November 24th, 2008 at 10:54 am
I don't agree with nor like these standardized test but they are trying to hold the "system" to a level of accountability.
As for memorizing algebra and biology, well you can't, it must be learned.
As for functional skills-how about this one-If you don't take the free minimum, 12 years of education-you will get nothing else from the "gov't".
I can't see whay any child can not sit through school and shut their mouths long enough to get the minimum. I don't want anymore trained service personnel on my tax dollars, I want engineers, doctors and the such-highly skilled.
You don't need a program to teach the other skills as they are virtually attained through "osmosis" during the regular 12 years of formal education.
Forgo federal funding and do what you feel is correct and get rid of the archaic textbooks. Look at the countries that have systems that work and emulate their systems-p.s. holding parents at detention might be the key!
As for memorizing algebra and biology, well you can't, it must be learned.
As for functional skills-how about this one-If you don't take the free minimum, 12 years of education-you will get nothing else from the "gov't".
I can't see whay any child can not sit through school and shut their mouths long enough to get the minimum. I don't want anymore trained service personnel on my tax dollars, I want engineers, doctors and the such-highly skilled.
You don't need a program to teach the other skills as they are virtually attained through "osmosis" during the regular 12 years of formal education.
Forgo federal funding and do what you feel is correct and get rid of the archaic textbooks. Look at the countries that have systems that work and emulate their systems-p.s. holding parents at detention might be the key!
old cynic posted on Monday, November 24th, 2008 at 12:10 am
Yall know about as much about education as you do flying the space shuttle. Why don't you call NASA and give them some advice?
Do you think the other schools do not teach the test? They score better on the tests than NC does. If anything, NC does less of that than the surrounding schools.
Students reflect the community. Dropout kids means dropout parents. Drugs in the school means drugs in the home and on the streets.
Things are not going to change at school until things change at home. Amazing that schools like Clayton have very low dropout rates. Wonder why?
Do you think the other schools do not teach the test? They score better on the tests than NC does. If anything, NC does less of that than the surrounding schools.
Students reflect the community. Dropout kids means dropout parents. Drugs in the school means drugs in the home and on the streets.
Things are not going to change at school until things change at home. Amazing that schools like Clayton have very low dropout rates. Wonder why?
rinky-dink posted on Sunday, November 23rd, 2008 at 9:08 pm
Amen Zip! Kids get tired of going to school to learn the test instead of learning what will prepare them for life! It's a shame to see at-risk and special needs students wasting their time trying to memorize algebra and biology when they could be using their time to learn functional skills and life skills. You can blame it on the government or the educators. I blame the educators because the government doesn't know any better, but educators should!
Zip Line posted on Saturday, November 22nd, 2008 at 12:32 am
Take a good long look at the administration. Then let the teachers "teach"! Quit telling them to teach to the state test.
ohplease posted on Friday, November 21st, 2008 at 9:30 pm
The "mommy and daddy will raise me" isn't just with the North County kids. It's in all the schools! Lots of people want to put down NC, but the other schools have the same problems.
trenticus posted on Friday, November 21st, 2008 at 7:40 pm
The graduation rate has dropped each year in the five-year period. In 2004, the graduation rate was 85.8 percent. In 2007, it was 78.4 percent. In 2008, it was 75.3 percent.
No doubt! The reason I can see from listening to kids talk is because they don't want to go to school because MOMMY and DADDY will raise me until I am 40. The mentality of the North County kids are JUST that. They get everything handed to them and don't have to work or take responsibility.
No doubt! The reason I can see from listening to kids talk is because they don't want to go to school because MOMMY and DADDY will raise me until I am 40. The mentality of the North County kids are JUST that. They get everything handed to them and don't have to work or take responsibility.
Local News
- The world is her home
- Christmas comes in with a growl
- Firefighter hopes good Samaritan will find his wallet
- Deason family raises money to honor soldiers killed in Iraq
- Never too young to pick a career
Most Commented - Last 7 Days
- Hundreds line up for energy aid (42)
- Judge sentences Osburn to five years (22)
- Schools take steps to fight drugs after possible overdose deaths (15)
- Bell-ringing season begins soon (9)
- Park Hills man, children hurt after vehicle overturns (7)
Most Viewed - Last 7 Days
More: Most Viewed
Most Emailed - Last 7 Days
Member Centeradvertisement
Let me ask you this - PROVE TO ME HE DOES NOT.
Come on, I'm waiting...
And yes, religion, belongs in EVERY aspect of people's lives. From waking up and thanking the Lord for giving you another day, to school, work, politics, life, anywhere you can take it...
Funny how the 10 commandments can be applied to every aspect of one's life..
Though shall not kill, adulterate, steal, etc...
Treat others as you wish for them to treat you....
Very simple rules. Why not take it to schools.. maybe the kids will quit shooting each other in class.
Again, if you are so set that because "science" can't show God, Jesus, and faith...
PROVE HE DOESN'T EXIST.
I'm all ears.