Letters to the Editor 03-30-2004
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- School Issues - What The Bible Says - Seek The Truth - One Lawgiver - Enrollments
School Issues
Editor, Times-Union:I would first like to thank Ron Yeiter for the great job he is doing on the school board! Ron Yeiter and Gene England are truly listening to the taxpayers and parents of this school system.
The school capacity issue is a huge joke! When the school board wanted to build two new schools, all of the schools were over capacity! Harrison was overflowing to the point that the school board has not allowed transfers for the last two years. Now that Dr. McGuire wants to close three schools, all of a sudden our schools are no longer overcrowded and we have all kinds of room for extra kids. Eisenhower is identical to Harrison and according to the Eisenhower principal, Mr. Gensinger, Eisenhower's capacity is 675 kids, although their stated total gym capacity on their Web site is 500. Now if this is true, how can Harrison be overcrowded? They only have 597 kids. The truth of the matter is Dr. McGuire is going to make the numbers say what he wants them to say to justify doing whatever he wants to do.
There are codes in place to protect the safety of our children. You cannot simply say a room can hold 25 kids and multiply this by the number of rooms to get a capacity. Madison has a classroom with only one door and no windows. Is this a good learning environment for your child? I sure wouldn't be happy if my children had to be in this class all day. Put yourself in the situation of not seeing daylight for most of the day. Would you be in a good mood and ready to learn?
As far as the need for teachers, parents and administrators to work together in the transition, I could not agree more but, we have NOT been given this opportunity. I have asked several times for the parents and teachers to be involved and have gotten nowhere with the request. Transition decisions have all been done behind closed doors without any consideration to the teachers or kids.
Has Ron Yeiter painted an unfair picture? No, he has not. The truth of the matter is, perhaps he has been too kind. It IS UNFAIR to everyone involved to bus these kids so far, put them in already overcrowded schools, ignore teacher and parent input, and all of the studies we as taxpayers have paid for and not used! So again, I say thank you to Ron and Gene for truly caring.
Vallerie Rowland
Claypool
via e-mail
What The Bible Says
Editor, Times-Union:I did some reading today. Since all who are opposed to legalizing gay marriage want to cite Bible verses to support their opposition, I thought I should reorient myself with this book that so many want to use as the legal guide for this country. I am not going to try to say the Bible does not condemn homosexuality, I would like to point out, however,that it does condemn other things as well.
1 Corinthians 7: 10-11
10 But to the married I give orders, though not I but the Lord, that the wife may not go away from her husband 11 (Or if she goes away from him, let her keep unmarried, or be united to her husband again); and that the husband may not go away from his wife.
How many heterosexual Christians have divorced and remarried? Some multiple times. Have they prayed to be forgiven for falling in love with and marrying their current spouse?
1 Corinthians 11: 4-7
4 Every man who takes part in prayer, or gives teaching as a prophet, with his head covered, puts shame on his head. 5 But every woman who does so with her head unveiled, puts shame on her head: for it is the same as if her hair was cut off. 6 For if a woman is not veiled, let her hair be cut off; but if it is a shame to a woman to have her hair cut off, let her be veiled. 7 For it is not right for a man to have his head covered, because he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.
Does the Christian community now accept women as ministers and allow them to stand before congregations teaching and leading prayer? Seems to me the New Testament forbids this type of position for women.
If the Christian community does not want to recognize gay marriage amongst their membership because the Bible says it's a sin, that's fine. Within your community you may dictate what your members do or take away their right to attend your churches or call themselves Christians in your presence.
I am not concerned with what the Christian community thinks of me or if the Bible says I am a sinner. I do not subscribe to the Christian beliefs. I exercise my right to freedom of religion and choose to follow a different path.
As a citizen of the United States and not as a member of the Christian community, I believe I have the unalienable right to legalize my union and receive the privileges and rights afforded to all people who choose a lifelong monogamous relationship with someone they love.
I am not asking anyone who is a Christian to accept my homosexuality, you have a right to your beliefs. I am asking those who run our government to acknowledge my rights as a citizen and adhere to the separation of church and state.
If my religious beliefs are wrong, then I will have to answer to that in the end and to the Christians that are concerned with what I am doing in my life more than what is going in on in their community, might you be in line right behind me?
Cheri Heath
Warsaw
via e-mail
Editor's Note: This letter was edited to conform more closely to the 500-word limit stated in the Times-Union letters policy.
Seek The Truth
Editor, Times-Union:To question equality in this country is to undermine the founders of this country. They came to this country hundreds of years ago to have the freedom to worship God in peace, to pursue their own lives, goals, etc., and not have the government dictating what line of work they would do, or breathing down their backs for wanting freedoms from various persecutions. I believe so firmly that we take our freedoms for granted and whine and whimper over the most stupid things when there is persecution and non-freedom in other countries, hunger, a long wish list of things that other countries envy of us. We are a nation that was, is and will be founded on God. Satan has from the beginning seduced our people and nation with lies, with confusion and with every step is slowly dismantling the Christian foundation that our country is founded on. Why do you think that each decade that goes by gets more and more lax? Remember that they had witch hunts and burnings back when to rid the colonies of evil ways and thinking. The more we take God out of this country and society, the more evil and out of control it is.
I do believe that even as the state and government wants desperately to put a barrier between itself and the church, it will never totally prevail. It is God that has made each and every one of us in his image and he knitted us together in the womb of our mother.
The issue of homosexuality is wrong because God says so and those of you fighting for this right - deep down know that it is wrong, but Satan convinces you it is OK - because he hates God and everything that God stands for.
I do know this fact, there will be a day when the Bible says that every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and on that day it will be too late for you to realize that your wishes on Earth have kept you from eternity in heaven. It says in the Book of Revelation that those names that were not written in the Book of Life were cast into the Lake of Fire or Hell. It is better to turn on the correct path now, because I can guarantee unlike the courts of this country, that you will not get an appeal process from God on that day.
Don't allow yourself to be seduced by Satan's lies when he convinces you that evil thought or decision isn't going to hurt anyone and it will be OK. When Satan gets you to believe all kinds of lies about yourself, it keeps you from becoming the person that God really intended for you to become. Every person that God has created will answer to God - God answers our questions through his word, the Bible. My prayer is that you seek and find the truth and that it sets you free.
Jennifer Hyden
Winona Lake
via e-mail
Editor's Note: This letter was edited to conform more closely to the 500-word limit stated in the Times-Union letters policy.
One Lawgiver
Editor, Times-Union:This letter is in regards to the recent discussion on homosexual rights. As I have sat here and day after day read the letters that have been written I have been pulled in many directions. As a Christian I feel that I am inclined to stand up and state some things that are really bothering me with the letters that have been written in past weeks.
In today's newspaper (March 24) a letter written by Ms. Webb sparked a response in me that I feel needs to be addressed. While I agree that this is a fitting debate to be having at the present time because of legislation and such, I do not agree with the way that some of the letters have been written. I believe that people are allowing their feelings to become too involved in the matter and not necessarily using logic. We are all allowed to our own opinion on issues, but we need to remember that as we respond. We need to allow people to have their own opinion, but we also need to be able to share ours without being put down in the process. Name-calling should not, at any time, be included.
To all of you who are Christians, please remember that we are called to love everyone but that does not mean we have to like everyone. "Love this sinner, hate the sin," seems lame, I know, but we should remember this as we have our discussions and write the letters. It hurts me and my witnessing when this is forgotten. But in the same right, all who are defending your homosexuality, please remember that just as you do not like to be called names, neither do those opposing it. We all have a right to have whatever thoughts we want, but we do not need to be hurtful when stating our opinions.
Finally, leave the judging to God. Ultimately He is the one who we will all have to answer to. We are not put on Earth to convict or judge but to love and fulfill God's commands. The reality is, we are all sinners, while our sins are different we are no better than anyone else and we should not be acting any differently.
Let me leave you with this final thought ..."There is only one lawgiver and judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you - who are you to judge your neighbor?" James 4:12 (NIV) Have your debates and give your opinions, but remember to love one another despite differences and not judge, it will all be taken care of in the end.
Denise Deerwester
Warsaw
via e-mail
Enrollments
Editor, Times-Union:After reading about the projected elementary school enrollments and Mr. Yeiter's comments regarding Washington Elementary School in the March 16 paper, I was very worried and upset. Capacity for Washington was listed as 365 with projected enrollment listed as 456. Mr. Yeiter stated in this article, "Washington scares me to death. If you base it on Prime Time figures, Washington is more than 40 percent over capacity. I see some major, major problems coming up."
In the upcoming school year I will have three children enrolled in Washington and desiring to be an advocate of my children's education, I made an appointment the following day to speak with the principal of Washington Elementary, Mr. Tom Ray. I spent an hour with him discussing numbers, school programs and taking a tour of the building and I would like to report to you the factual findings of that meeting.
First let's discuss capacity. There are 25 classrooms at Washington, if there were 25 students per classroom that would make the capacity of Washington 625 students. In Indiana our goal is to meet the standards of Prime Time capacity. Prime Time Capacity has a goal of no more than 18 students per class in grades K-2. If and when a school goes over Prime Time capacity, they are allotted a certain amount of money per student to pay for classroom aides. Prime Time capacity for Washington is as follows: 10 (two kindergarten, four first grade, four second grade) classrooms at 18/room equals 180. Fifteen additional classrooms (grades three-six)at 25/room equals 375. Therefore our Prime Time capacity is 180+375=555, not 365 as listed in the newspaper. I obtained the current enrollment figures for both Silver Lake and Washington (last updated 3/16/2004), which are as follows: Silver Lake at 144 and Washington at 404 with a combined enrollment of 548. This places Washington Elementary projected enrollment for the 2004-05 school year AT Prime Time capacity and NOT at 40 percent over capacity.
Now let's discuss classroom size which will remain the same or in some cases will decrease in size for the Washington Elementary students. For the Silver lake students, most of you will see an increase in classroom size. The projected classroom size and student to teacher ratio considering current enrollment and historical net enrollment gain is as follows: Kindergarten/four half-day classrooms: 20:1; first grade/four classrooms: 19:1; second grade/four classrooms: 22:1; third grade/four classrooms: 20:1; fourth grade/three classrooms: 23:1; fifth grade/ three classrooms: 25:1; and sixth grade/four classrooms: 20:1.
I am greatly disappointed in Mr. Yeiter's irresponsible and inflammatory comments. He has never visited Washington to take a tour nor has he ever personally spoken to the principal, Mr. Ray. It is my expectation that, as a paid and elected school board official, Mr. Yeiter would be accurately informed prior to making statements at school board meetings and prior to making decisions that affect our schools.
I would invite anyone who also has questions to contact him through the school. My family has thus far been greatly blessed by this school and I was greatly relieved to learn the truth about what will be happening there next year. To the first grade children of Silver Lake, my two girls loved meeting you at the Dr. Seuss party and they are very much looking forward to going to school with you next year!
Clare Sessa
Warsaw
via e-mail
Editor's Note: This letter was edited to conform more closely to the 500-word limit stated in the Times-Union letters policy.
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- School Issues - What The Bible Says - Seek The Truth - One Lawgiver - Enrollments
School Issues
Editor, Times-Union:I would first like to thank Ron Yeiter for the great job he is doing on the school board! Ron Yeiter and Gene England are truly listening to the taxpayers and parents of this school system.
The school capacity issue is a huge joke! When the school board wanted to build two new schools, all of the schools were over capacity! Harrison was overflowing to the point that the school board has not allowed transfers for the last two years. Now that Dr. McGuire wants to close three schools, all of a sudden our schools are no longer overcrowded and we have all kinds of room for extra kids. Eisenhower is identical to Harrison and according to the Eisenhower principal, Mr. Gensinger, Eisenhower's capacity is 675 kids, although their stated total gym capacity on their Web site is 500. Now if this is true, how can Harrison be overcrowded? They only have 597 kids. The truth of the matter is Dr. McGuire is going to make the numbers say what he wants them to say to justify doing whatever he wants to do.
There are codes in place to protect the safety of our children. You cannot simply say a room can hold 25 kids and multiply this by the number of rooms to get a capacity. Madison has a classroom with only one door and no windows. Is this a good learning environment for your child? I sure wouldn't be happy if my children had to be in this class all day. Put yourself in the situation of not seeing daylight for most of the day. Would you be in a good mood and ready to learn?
As far as the need for teachers, parents and administrators to work together in the transition, I could not agree more but, we have NOT been given this opportunity. I have asked several times for the parents and teachers to be involved and have gotten nowhere with the request. Transition decisions have all been done behind closed doors without any consideration to the teachers or kids.
Has Ron Yeiter painted an unfair picture? No, he has not. The truth of the matter is, perhaps he has been too kind. It IS UNFAIR to everyone involved to bus these kids so far, put them in already overcrowded schools, ignore teacher and parent input, and all of the studies we as taxpayers have paid for and not used! So again, I say thank you to Ron and Gene for truly caring.
Vallerie Rowland
Claypool
via e-mail
What The Bible Says
Editor, Times-Union:I did some reading today. Since all who are opposed to legalizing gay marriage want to cite Bible verses to support their opposition, I thought I should reorient myself with this book that so many want to use as the legal guide for this country. I am not going to try to say the Bible does not condemn homosexuality, I would like to point out, however,that it does condemn other things as well.
1 Corinthians 7: 10-11
10 But to the married I give orders, though not I but the Lord, that the wife may not go away from her husband 11 (Or if she goes away from him, let her keep unmarried, or be united to her husband again); and that the husband may not go away from his wife.
How many heterosexual Christians have divorced and remarried? Some multiple times. Have they prayed to be forgiven for falling in love with and marrying their current spouse?
1 Corinthians 11: 4-7
4 Every man who takes part in prayer, or gives teaching as a prophet, with his head covered, puts shame on his head. 5 But every woman who does so with her head unveiled, puts shame on her head: for it is the same as if her hair was cut off. 6 For if a woman is not veiled, let her hair be cut off; but if it is a shame to a woman to have her hair cut off, let her be veiled. 7 For it is not right for a man to have his head covered, because he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.
Does the Christian community now accept women as ministers and allow them to stand before congregations teaching and leading prayer? Seems to me the New Testament forbids this type of position for women.
If the Christian community does not want to recognize gay marriage amongst their membership because the Bible says it's a sin, that's fine. Within your community you may dictate what your members do or take away their right to attend your churches or call themselves Christians in your presence.
I am not concerned with what the Christian community thinks of me or if the Bible says I am a sinner. I do not subscribe to the Christian beliefs. I exercise my right to freedom of religion and choose to follow a different path.
As a citizen of the United States and not as a member of the Christian community, I believe I have the unalienable right to legalize my union and receive the privileges and rights afforded to all people who choose a lifelong monogamous relationship with someone they love.
I am not asking anyone who is a Christian to accept my homosexuality, you have a right to your beliefs. I am asking those who run our government to acknowledge my rights as a citizen and adhere to the separation of church and state.
If my religious beliefs are wrong, then I will have to answer to that in the end and to the Christians that are concerned with what I am doing in my life more than what is going in on in their community, might you be in line right behind me?
Cheri Heath
Warsaw
via e-mail
Editor's Note: This letter was edited to conform more closely to the 500-word limit stated in the Times-Union letters policy.
Seek The Truth
Editor, Times-Union:To question equality in this country is to undermine the founders of this country. They came to this country hundreds of years ago to have the freedom to worship God in peace, to pursue their own lives, goals, etc., and not have the government dictating what line of work they would do, or breathing down their backs for wanting freedoms from various persecutions. I believe so firmly that we take our freedoms for granted and whine and whimper over the most stupid things when there is persecution and non-freedom in other countries, hunger, a long wish list of things that other countries envy of us. We are a nation that was, is and will be founded on God. Satan has from the beginning seduced our people and nation with lies, with confusion and with every step is slowly dismantling the Christian foundation that our country is founded on. Why do you think that each decade that goes by gets more and more lax? Remember that they had witch hunts and burnings back when to rid the colonies of evil ways and thinking. The more we take God out of this country and society, the more evil and out of control it is.
I do believe that even as the state and government wants desperately to put a barrier between itself and the church, it will never totally prevail. It is God that has made each and every one of us in his image and he knitted us together in the womb of our mother.
The issue of homosexuality is wrong because God says so and those of you fighting for this right - deep down know that it is wrong, but Satan convinces you it is OK - because he hates God and everything that God stands for.
I do know this fact, there will be a day when the Bible says that every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and on that day it will be too late for you to realize that your wishes on Earth have kept you from eternity in heaven. It says in the Book of Revelation that those names that were not written in the Book of Life were cast into the Lake of Fire or Hell. It is better to turn on the correct path now, because I can guarantee unlike the courts of this country, that you will not get an appeal process from God on that day.
Don't allow yourself to be seduced by Satan's lies when he convinces you that evil thought or decision isn't going to hurt anyone and it will be OK. When Satan gets you to believe all kinds of lies about yourself, it keeps you from becoming the person that God really intended for you to become. Every person that God has created will answer to God - God answers our questions through his word, the Bible. My prayer is that you seek and find the truth and that it sets you free.
Jennifer Hyden
Winona Lake
via e-mail
Editor's Note: This letter was edited to conform more closely to the 500-word limit stated in the Times-Union letters policy.
One Lawgiver
Editor, Times-Union:This letter is in regards to the recent discussion on homosexual rights. As I have sat here and day after day read the letters that have been written I have been pulled in many directions. As a Christian I feel that I am inclined to stand up and state some things that are really bothering me with the letters that have been written in past weeks.
In today's newspaper (March 24) a letter written by Ms. Webb sparked a response in me that I feel needs to be addressed. While I agree that this is a fitting debate to be having at the present time because of legislation and such, I do not agree with the way that some of the letters have been written. I believe that people are allowing their feelings to become too involved in the matter and not necessarily using logic. We are all allowed to our own opinion on issues, but we need to remember that as we respond. We need to allow people to have their own opinion, but we also need to be able to share ours without being put down in the process. Name-calling should not, at any time, be included.
To all of you who are Christians, please remember that we are called to love everyone but that does not mean we have to like everyone. "Love this sinner, hate the sin," seems lame, I know, but we should remember this as we have our discussions and write the letters. It hurts me and my witnessing when this is forgotten. But in the same right, all who are defending your homosexuality, please remember that just as you do not like to be called names, neither do those opposing it. We all have a right to have whatever thoughts we want, but we do not need to be hurtful when stating our opinions.
Finally, leave the judging to God. Ultimately He is the one who we will all have to answer to. We are not put on Earth to convict or judge but to love and fulfill God's commands. The reality is, we are all sinners, while our sins are different we are no better than anyone else and we should not be acting any differently.
Let me leave you with this final thought ..."There is only one lawgiver and judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you - who are you to judge your neighbor?" James 4:12 (NIV) Have your debates and give your opinions, but remember to love one another despite differences and not judge, it will all be taken care of in the end.
Denise Deerwester
Warsaw
via e-mail
Enrollments
Editor, Times-Union:After reading about the projected elementary school enrollments and Mr. Yeiter's comments regarding Washington Elementary School in the March 16 paper, I was very worried and upset. Capacity for Washington was listed as 365 with projected enrollment listed as 456. Mr. Yeiter stated in this article, "Washington scares me to death. If you base it on Prime Time figures, Washington is more than 40 percent over capacity. I see some major, major problems coming up."
In the upcoming school year I will have three children enrolled in Washington and desiring to be an advocate of my children's education, I made an appointment the following day to speak with the principal of Washington Elementary, Mr. Tom Ray. I spent an hour with him discussing numbers, school programs and taking a tour of the building and I would like to report to you the factual findings of that meeting.
First let's discuss capacity. There are 25 classrooms at Washington, if there were 25 students per classroom that would make the capacity of Washington 625 students. In Indiana our goal is to meet the standards of Prime Time capacity. Prime Time Capacity has a goal of no more than 18 students per class in grades K-2. If and when a school goes over Prime Time capacity, they are allotted a certain amount of money per student to pay for classroom aides. Prime Time capacity for Washington is as follows: 10 (two kindergarten, four first grade, four second grade) classrooms at 18/room equals 180. Fifteen additional classrooms (grades three-six)at 25/room equals 375. Therefore our Prime Time capacity is 180+375=555, not 365 as listed in the newspaper. I obtained the current enrollment figures for both Silver Lake and Washington (last updated 3/16/2004), which are as follows: Silver Lake at 144 and Washington at 404 with a combined enrollment of 548. This places Washington Elementary projected enrollment for the 2004-05 school year AT Prime Time capacity and NOT at 40 percent over capacity.
Now let's discuss classroom size which will remain the same or in some cases will decrease in size for the Washington Elementary students. For the Silver lake students, most of you will see an increase in classroom size. The projected classroom size and student to teacher ratio considering current enrollment and historical net enrollment gain is as follows: Kindergarten/four half-day classrooms: 20:1; first grade/four classrooms: 19:1; second grade/four classrooms: 22:1; third grade/four classrooms: 20:1; fourth grade/three classrooms: 23:1; fifth grade/ three classrooms: 25:1; and sixth grade/four classrooms: 20:1.
I am greatly disappointed in Mr. Yeiter's irresponsible and inflammatory comments. He has never visited Washington to take a tour nor has he ever personally spoken to the principal, Mr. Ray. It is my expectation that, as a paid and elected school board official, Mr. Yeiter would be accurately informed prior to making statements at school board meetings and prior to making decisions that affect our schools.
I would invite anyone who also has questions to contact him through the school. My family has thus far been greatly blessed by this school and I was greatly relieved to learn the truth about what will be happening there next year. To the first grade children of Silver Lake, my two girls loved meeting you at the Dr. Seuss party and they are very much looking forward to going to school with you next year!
Clare Sessa
Warsaw
via e-mail
Editor's Note: This letter was edited to conform more closely to the 500-word limit stated in the Times-Union letters policy.
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