LAWRENCE POLICY REWARDS LYING

Willie Park's grandson (Independent, May 5) has learned an important
lesson: Life is not fair.

Unfortunately, he has also learned that if you take responsibility for your
actions and tell the truth (admirable traits), you will be penalized by the
Lawrence County school board's policies. On the other hand, if you lie and
deny any responsibility for your actions (dishonorable traits), you get a
free pass by the school board.

What on earth were they thinking, or were they not thinking of the
consequences their actions send to their students? These students are in
training to set the stage for the rest of their lives. Is this the message
we want to send to our youths?

Let me see if I have this straight: A starting football player, who is an
honor student, admits to a drug problem and is removed from all school
activities. As a student, would I admit to anything I had done at that
school, knowing I would suffer this result? Absolutely not. I would train
my self to deny, deny, deny, knowing nothing would happen.

Would I know that this may set me upon a course of disastrous results as I
lay the building stones that will now govern the rest of my life's
behavior? I think not, seeing that this behavior gives me a free pass.

I commend Mr. Park's grandson for stepping up to the plate. With his
attitude, he may go far. As for his alternative school, he may see some new
classmates if they open a new course for "Remedial Training for Common
Sense" - prerequisite, Lawrence County administrators.

William B. Secrest

South Shore