Our school day began with the Lord's Prayer and each day a new student would select a psalm to read which was how I learned by heart Psalms 23 and 100 at P.S. #215, but Madeline Murray O'Hair was responsible for removing that from public schools! We were taught common courtesy, respect for elders, God and country.
My early training at home was that when you walked down the aisle wearing white in the sight of God, you have to be worthy of the white that you wore. In 2014, 46 million people were on food stamps at a cost of $74 billion. I'm not sure how many of those people were teens or living in single family homes. None of this is Gov. Larry Hogan's fault. Instead of First Lady Michelle Obama teaching proper nutrition, she should be instructing young people on morals. As to the school shootings, why aren't the parents of those students brought into court to know why that student came to own a gun? That's where the fault lies. Also, when I was in class, the teacher was respected and we followed the rules. If not that student was sent to the principal.
As for the plastic bag problem, we need more emphasis on encouraging people to recycle. My parents were immigrants and we were taught not to expect anything for free but to study and get a steady job and not spend all you earn so that no one has to take care of you when you grow old. I got a permit and started working at age 13 during the summer break. I treasure my early training and have been very blessed.
Frances C. Martino, Dundalk