INDA - Patriotic, Civic, and Character Education
1. PURPOSE AND PHILOSOPHY
Nebo School District recognizes the importance of providing students with patriotic, civic, and character education as required by Utah law. Character education reaffirms values and qualities of character that promote an upright and desirable citizenry. Civic education cultivates informed, responsible participation in political life by competent citizens committed to the fundamental values and principles of representative democracy in Utah and the United States. Patriotic education helps students identify, acquire, and act upon a dedication to their country. The District approaches patriotic, civic, and character education through a process that promotes the involvement of students and employees as organized at the school level. Patriotic, civic and character education programs at each school shall include instruction in the following, as more fully described below: (1) United States history and government, (2) the United States Flag, (3) relevant historical documents, and (4) values and qualities of character that promote an upright and desirable citizenry. Patriotic, civic, and character education shall be achieved through an integrated school curriculum and in the regular course of schoolwork.
2. UNITED STATES HISTORY AND GOVERNMENT
2.1Instruction in United States history and government shall meet the requirements found in Utah Code Ann. § 53G-10-302 and include the following:
2.1.1A study of forms of government including:
2.1.1.1A republic;
2.1.1.2A democracy;
2.1.1.3A monarchy; and
2.1.1.4An oligarchy.
2.1.2A study of political philosophies and economic systems including:
2.1.2.1Socialism;
2.1.2.2Individualism; and
2.1.2.3Free market capitalism.
2.1.3A study of the United States' form of government, which is a compound constitutional republic.
3. THE UNITED STATES FLAG
3.1Instruction on the flag of the United States shall meet the requirements found in Utah Code Ann. § 53G-10-304 and include the following:
3.1.1The history of the flag,
3.1.2Flag etiquette,
3.1.3Customs pertaining to the display and use of the flag, and
3.1.4Other patriotic exercises as provided by 4 U.S.C. §§ 1-10.
3.2As applicable, the school shall provide the instruction identified in Section 3.1 by example and role modeling.
3.3The instruction identified in Section 3.1 shall be taught and modeled following the plan of the social studies core curriculum in grades kindergarten through six.
3.4The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag shall be recited by students at the beginning of each school day in each classroom, led by a student as assigned on a rotating basis. A student shall be excused from reciting the pledge upon written request from the student’s parent or legal guardian. Each student shall be informed by posting the notice provided as Exhibit 1 to this policy near the flag in each classroom.
3.5Teachers shall strive to maintain an atmosphere of respect for all students in the classroom and shall, at least once each year, inform students of the following:
3.5.1Participation in the Pledge of Allegiance is voluntary and not compulsory;
3.5.2It is acceptable for an individual to choose not to participate in the Pledge of Allegiance for religious or other reasons; and
3.5.3Students should show respect for individuals who participate and individuals who choose not to participate.
3.6Schools shall notify students and parents of lawful exemptions to the requirement to participate in reciting the pledge.
3.7Parents must provide an annual written request for the student to be excused from reciting the pledge.
3.8The District shall make information about the flag, respect for the flag, and civility toward all during patriotic activities available on the District website.
4. HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS
4.1Patriotic, civic, and character education shall meet the requirements found in Utah Code Ann. § 53G-10-302 and include a thorough study of relevant historical documents, including but not limited to the following:
4.1.1The Declaration of Independence;
4.1.2The United States Constitution;
4.1.3The national motto;
4.1.4The Pledge of Allegiance;
4.1.5The national anthem;
4.1.6The Mayflower Compact;
4.1.7The writings, speeches, documents, and proclamations of the Founders and the Presidents of the United States;
4.1.8Organic documents from the pre-Colonial, Colonial, Revolutionary, Federalist, and post Federalist eras;
4.1.9United States Supreme Court decisions;
4.1.10Acts of the United States Congress, including the published text of the Congressional Record; and
4.1.11United States treaties.
4.2To increase student understanding of, and familiarity with, American historical documents, schools may display historically important excerpts from, or copies of, those documents in classrooms and common areas.
4.3There shall be no content-based censorship of American history and heritage documents referred to in this section due to their religious or cultural nature.
4.4Schools shall display "In God we trust," which is declared in 36 U.S.C. 302 to be the national motto of the United States, in one or more prominent places within each school building.
5. VALUES AND QUALITIES OF CHARACTER
Through an integrated curriculum, and in accordance with Utah Code Ann. § 53G-10-204, students shall be taught the following:
5.1Honesty, integrity, morality, civility, duty, honor, service, and obedience to law;
5.2Respect for and an understanding of the Declaration of Independence and the constitutions of the United States and of the state of Utah;
5.3Utah history, including territorial and preterritorial development to the present;
5.4The essentials and benefits of the free enterprise system;
5.5Respect for parents, home, and family;
5.6The dignity and necessity of honest labor; and
5.7Other skills, habits, and qualities of character which will promote an upright and desirable citizenry and better prepare students to recognize and accept responsibility for preserving and defending the blessings of liberty inherited from prior generations and secured by the constitution.