Posted on: Wednesday, April 17, 2002

Forum to discuss McKinley High code

By Mary Kaye Ritz
Advertiser Religion & Ethics Writer

An ACLU committee has given its legal director the go-ahead to sue in the case of McKinley High School's honor code, which includes the words "love for God."

But Brent White isn't sure that's the right approach for now. He's hoping a public forum, set up for next week, will help persuade the school to remove the reference in its 75-year-old honor code, which is published in the student handbook, sung by the school choir and posted in classrooms.

"I remain hopeful the state will do the right thing and McKinley High will do right thing," White said.

Late last year, a teacher complained about the code to Mitch Kahle, president of Hawaii Citizens for the Separation of State and Church. The code reads:

"As a student of McKinley, I stand for honesty in all I do and say; for industry in study, work, and play; for purity in spirit, thought and deed; for courage to meet life's every need; for brotherhood of races all combined; and love for God and all mankind."

After a complaint was filed, the state attorney general's office responded that the code, like the national motto "In God We Trust," is a code and not a prayer.

White and Kahle will join Ed Clark, president of the Hawai'i chapter of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, to discuss the issue at a forum at 6:30 p.m. next Wednesday at McKinley's Hirata Hall.