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as more fully described below: (1) United States history and government, (2) the United States Flag, (3) relevant historical documents, and (4) values and qualities of character that promote an upright and desirable citizenry.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

Instruction in United States history and government shall meet the requirements found in Utah Code Ann. § 53G-10-302 and include the following:

A study of forms of government including:

A republic;

A democracy;

A monarchy; and

An oligarchy.

A study of political philosophies and economic systems including:

Socialism;

Individualism; and

Free market capitalism.

A study of the United States' form of government, which is a compound constitutional republic.

3. THE UNITED STATES FLAG

Instruction on the flag of the United States shall meet the requirements found in Utah Code Ann. § 53G-10-304 and include the following:

The history of the flag, 

Flag etiquette, 

Customs pertaining to the display and use of the flag, and 

Other patriotic exercises as provided by 4 U.S.C. §§ 1-10.

As applicable, the school shall provide the instruction identified in Section 3.1 by example and role modeling.

The 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.

The 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. 

Teachers 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:

Participation in the Pledge of Allegiance is voluntary and not compulsory;

It is acceptable for an individual to choose not to participate in the Pledge of Allegiance for religious or other reasons; and

Students should show respect for individuals who participate and individuals who choose not to participate.

Schools shall notify students and parents of lawful exemptions to the requirement to participate in reciting the pledge.

Parents must provide an annual written request for the student to be excused from reciting the pledge. 

The 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

Patriotic, 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:

The Declaration of Independence;

The United States Constitution;

The national motto;

The Pledge of Allegiance;

The national anthem;

The Mayflower Compact;

The writings, speeches, documents, and proclamations of the Founders and the Presidents of the United States;

Organic documents from the pre-Colonial, Colonial, Revolutionary, Federalist, and post Federalist eras;

United States Supreme Court decisions;

Acts of the United States Congress, including the published text of the Congressional Record; and

United States treaties.

To 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. 

There shall be no content-based censorship of American history and heritage documents referred to in this section due to their religious or cultural nature.

Schools 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: 

Honesty, integrity, morality, civility, duty, honor, service, and obedience to law; 

Respect for and an understanding of the Declaration of Independence and the constitutions of the United States and of the state of Utah;

Utah history, including territorial and preterritorial development to the present;

The essentials and benefits of the free enterprise system;

Respect for parents, home, and family;

The dignity and necessity of honest labor; and

Other 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.