I am writing to thank the Sun Journal for the Sept. 26 editorial, “GOP lawmakers need to come clean on columns.”

During my English teacher days, I impressed upon my students the importance of crediting sources. If the ideas or the words aren’t yours, don’t pretend they are. High school students understand that, but apparently some Maine legislators don’t.

Early in September, I read the article in question in a local weekly newspaper. It was submitted by Rep. Bruce Hanley. Apparently the article also appeared in other newspapers, each time with the authorship attributed to a different representative. Most recently it was described as a collaborative effort. However, if it was written by a group of legislators, why wasn’t it presented that way each time it appeared in print? Anything less is dishonesty or intellectual laziness, not to mention a lack of courtesy in acknowledging co-workers.

I expected my students to avoid such ethical murkiness in their writing. Now, like the Sun Journal editorial writer, I expect my lawmakers to bring more integrity to their work.

Marilyn Ackley, Buckfield