American society is more polarized and divided than ever. In our surging culture of contempt, youth are learning to value only those with whom they agree. In turn, they are learning to view others as the enemy who are worthless and defective.

The religion clauses of the First Amendment provide the key for navigating our deepest differences with our fellow Americans. The religion clauses  are the boldest and most successful part of the entire American experiment; they protect the individual ways we act on our consciences; they guarantee the state will not require any particular expression of faith or penalize someone for their choice not to believe; they protect what it means to be fully human and the essence of what it means to be an American. 

This petition invites Utah legislators to pass a resolution encouraging the Utah State Board of Education to promote the 3Rs framework among Utah public school educators. The 3Rs framework draws on the First Amendment principles embedded in the religion clauses to prepare students to approach their citizenship in the mindset that every person has rights, everyone has the responsibility to protect the rights of others, and we honor the human dignity of others when we respectfully engage in civil discourse.

This petition also requests Utah legislators to encourage the Utah State Board of Education to support public-school educators in accessing teaching resources that develop in students the competencies of religious liberty, religious literacy, and civil dialogue. 

Gaining these competencies, set within the 3Rs framework, will prepare Utah students to be First Amendment champions and lead the nation in successfully navigating our deepest differences and overturning our rising culture of contempt.