GOOD THINKING: SCHOOL DAYS BRING MEMORIES

"School days, school days, good old Golden Rule days;

Readin' and Writin' and 'Rithmetic

Taught to the tune of the hickory stick."

School days have always been important days. Even for those of us who remember the "good old days," school shaped our lives. We remember when life was less complicated. We attended a one-room school. Discipline was strict; the hickory stick was used by both the teacher at school and Dad at home. Even in those "good old days," the basics were important: how to read, how to write, how to figure math, and how to think for yourself.

Along with the basics, we were taught to be fair and that honesty is the best policy. We learned to respect those in authority, to be loyal to our family, our school, our community and our government. We were taught to help our neighbor, that hard work would be rewarded, and that every person has some contribution to make to society. We learned to be faithful to our wife or husband, faithful in keeping our promises, and faithful to God and church. Lying, cheating, broken promises, personal gain and individual rights had no place in the "good old days." We learned that when we worked together for the good of all, everybody benefited and life was good.

If the Basics were important in the "good old days," how much more important are they today! A person who cannot read or write, figure math problems or think for themselves will find no place in today's world. A person who is dishonest and corrupt, puts his or her own interests ahead of the interests of the community, is unfaithful to the people in his or her life, and has no room for God or church and will not find the "good life."

Some things are important, yesterday, today and tomorrow. Some things never change. Some values remain constant. God has given us a mind to use for the betterment of ourselves and for the benefit of others. Let us use what God has given us to make this world a heaven-on-earth for everyone!