Whatever happened to the Golden Rule?

It is nearing four months since Autum Bennett, a distant relative of mine, was expelled for allegedly writing and placing a bomb-threat note at Slippery Rock Middle School.

The Butler Eagle inserted her written statement in Friday's edition. Two separate handwriting-expert firms have concluded that Autum did not write the note.

However, due to political wrangling, an apathetic school administration, an overzealous Pennsylvania State Police criminal investigator; not to mention five members of a school board whose voting practices on the issue are open to question, this 12-year-old honor student remains at home on a daily basis, instead of in school in a school district where her parents pay taxes.

So, what does this teach our children? To respect authority? To be diligent when someone else needs their help? To trust their teachers, elders and lawmen?

Hardly.

Does anyone think any other student in this school district is going to come forth if another bomb note is found? It would be safe to assume that some parents of children in the school district already have instructed them to do just the opposite for fear of facing what the Bennetts now face.

Autum's parents have their work cut out for them after this is all over — with Autum and her three siblings, in respect to teaching them who to trust.

I grew up with Jason, Autum's father. We have been the best of friends since we were toddlers.

We were raised in stern Christian homes. Each of us has passed that on to our children.

One of the fundamentals of Christianity and basic humanity is to treat others like we would want to be treated. What has happened to that?

It is a dying philosophy and is certainly void in this entire situation, except when Autum told her teacher that there was a bomb note in the bathroom.

Think about that one.