PINE TREE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT
P.O. Box 5878,  Longview, TX 75608

903.295.5000

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ETALA ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF 3rd annual MIDDLE SCHOOL Essay Contest to Promote Personal Responsibility

 

Feb. 2007

 

East Texans Against Lawsuit Abuse (ETALA) today announced the winners of its third annual essay contest for area sixth and seventh graders.  Students from both grades who penned the top two essays about “personal responsibility” will receive $500 and $100 savings bonds, respectively.  The board of ETALA judged the essays. 

 

This year’s winners include first and second place sixth graders Megan McNaney of Pine Tree Middle 5/6 School and Christa Black of Bradley Upchurch Christian Heritage Academy  Seventh grade first and second place winners are Cassie Weaver of Pine Tree Middle 7 and Emily Smith of Hallsville Junior High.

 

“These students have grown up in our lawsuit happy society, yet clearly grasp the importance of personal responsibility,” said ETALA Executive Director Diane Davis.  “It is encouraging that our youth understand why it’s important to take ownership of their behavior and how they exercise that practice in everyday life.” 

 

Participating students answered one of three essay questions: “What happens when we do not take personal responsibility?”  “Why do we need personal responsibility?” and “How do you take personal responsibility in your own life?”

 

“It’s never too early to reinforce the concept of personal responsibility, especially since the young people of today can help stomp out lawsuit abuse in the future,” Davis said.  “We hope to teach our children about the importance of accepting responsibility and resisting the urge to play the ‘blame game’ every time things don’t go their way.”

 

ETALA is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots, public education organization dedicated to serving as a watchdog over the legal system and those who would seek to abuse it for undeserved gain.  ETALA strives to raise awareness of the costs and consequences of lawsuit abuse.