Pledge to Justice

During the Summer of 2009, a young man visiting Dallas from California was assaulted coming out of a Rascal Flatts concert at Fair Park and put in a coma. Next, a graduate of Plano West Senior High was accused of being the assailant. I was so sad to hear someone from Plano be accused of this crime.

I have suggested for years that the Plano ISD adopt the Pledge to Justice, reciting it after the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.

The Pledge to Justice

We do not steal, we do not cheat, and we do not hurt other people.
We are people of integrity, competence, and compassion.

If we had drilled these simple principles into all our students in elementary school over the years, perhaps that assault at Fair Park would not have happened.

We Plano parents can use the Pledge to Justice with our children. Even if the schools use it daily, parents need to use it as well to emphasize its importance. We Plano parents should tell our children we live by this standard and we expect them to do so as well.

Robert Canright