Letters to the Editor 04-15-1997
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Hot School Response - Favorite Drug Store - Winona Fire Department - Religious Freedom - Great Volunteers - Softball
Hot School Response
Editor, Times-Union:Please tell Warsaw Community Education Association president Terry Sims that my "Hot School" letter was in response to a statewide problem and that I have long been aware of the fact that Warsaw schools are not members of NEA, for which reason I have been proud of them. Mr. Sims, please reread my letter; it does not accuse Warsaw teachers of any wrongdoing or of being members of NEA. My letter was written in criticism of NEA's long history of "gimme-itis" and disrespect for the duties and responsibilities of the public school system.
The facts are: Warsaw does, along with the rest of the state, give its schools the spring break we now have during cool days, which could be exchanged for the debated and proposed August hot days that properly upset parents.
Yes, my comments did not reflect any great respect for NEA because it does not deserve such and didn't earn the respect of my two parents, each of whom taught in earlier days; and didn't earn respect of my wife, who was a teacher; nor of her mother, who taught most of her adult life. So I am not alone in my disapproval of the NEA policies that have long been detrimental to our children's educations. Many teachers feel similarly.
It is common practice by trained debaters to accuse someone else of being misleading and making false statements and then they precede by creating their own "paper tiger" picture or situation and then claim that the other speaker was against that new issue. I did not attack the Warsaw teachers whom I knew were not NEA members and of whom I am proud of that fact. Neither did I accuse Warsaw's teachers of going to NEA union meetings, so Mr. Sims, please reread my letter.
I, however, tried to point out that there were times when schools take a break and a lot of schools used to give that break so teachers can go to meetings at Indianapolis. If that practice has been universally discontinued, I stand corrected. However, when students and teachers take a break and instead of going to NEA meetings do their whatever, the point I tried to make still stands: Better use these cool days to extend the school year than use hot August days.
I am glad the lost snow days will be made up and I am not asking whether the lost days were paid. It is results each parent, each student and each teacher must strive for. The heat issue is an important issue and the reason I make my now-debated suggestions. I am glad Mr. Sims agrees that an important decision must be made, but I fail to see any constructive suggestions in his letter.
Yes, Mr. Sims, I do feel considerable dissatisfaction with the NEA's efforts to discard long-proved values and time-honored methods of teaching and replace such with either experimental or intentionally destructive concepts. I have better and more explicit terms to describe my feelings about NEA than Mr. Sims' term of "contempt," but that's not the issue. How do we settle the hot school problem? I am sure that the Warsaw Community Schools administration and school board are wrestling with the problem and for each of us to call them as he implies would only overload their secretaries. My letter sought to show people that we ordinary people can be heard and sometimes our ideas can be helpful. I am sorry Mr. Sims jumped to the conclusion that I was attacking his union.
I welcome any organization that serves to promote good teaching. Some people believe this and without pay teach their children at home, and many such students get higher grades on standardized tests than do the public school-taught students. This and other school problems should be reviewed in the public news media because the entire school system belongs to the people who pay for the school and supply the students.
Every parent and thinking person should be constuctively critical of our school system and should do whatever possible to make it better. If Mr. Sims' union has that goal, we should respect each other's efforts. Quality of teaching time spent is far more important than number of days spent, and resentment and anger give no constructive results.
Rex Bradt Warsaw
Favorite Drug Store
Editor, Times-Union:There is a little drug store about two blocks from me. What more could I ask for? It's such a help, you see. They are only a phone call away when I run out of pills in any given day. Since I no longer drive a car and to walk would be just too far, I just step to my phone and dial. In just a minute, a tiny little while, a voice says "This is Brennan's; may I help you?"
Another thing I appreciate is they deliver too, and this service is friendly and free because they bring my pills over with no fee. A good many years they have been a service to me. No other drug store could be better, you see. So, as long as I can, and have to take pills, Brennan's is the place for me to cure all my ills!
Juanita Harman Warsaw
Winona Fire Department
Editor, Times-Union:A few weeks ago Tom Skaggs, owner of Blosser's Camera & Video, donated a new video camera to the Winona Lake Fire Department. That event was pictured in this newspaper and words of appreciation and thank you have been exchanged by all who were involved.
The significance of this gift, however, is far more important to us and our community than most people realize. That significance was duly noted in a letter from our assistant fire chief/training officer, Ed Brown, to Mr. Skaggs. The following is a portion of that letter:
"Training is the most important element of a fire department. Without training, the risks to a firefighter and the people and property he is attempting to save become immeasurable ... The tool you have given our department will allow us endless opportunity to review our training exercises. In doing so, we will be able to effectively review and evaluate our strategies and procedures and further ensure the safety of our firefighters ... On the fire ground, there is no margin for error."
The Winona Lake Fire Department is grateful for this video camera. We will use this tool to expand all facets of our training activities and explore new ways to implement a variety of fire safety and community relations programs.
Rick Glass Public Information Officer Winona Lake Fire Department
Religious Freedom
Editor, Times-Union:A little history lesson from the Warsaw Public Library:
After the Revolutionary War but before the constitutional convention, the commonwealth of Virginia attempted to enact a bill to collect taxes for the "Teachers of the Christian Religion," which was supported by Patrick Henry. James Madison issued a decree called a Memorial and Remonstrance that stated "The religion then of every man must be left to the conviction and conscience of every man, and it is the right of every man to exercise it as these may dictate ... In some instances (ecclesiastical establishments) have been seen to erect a spiritual tyranny on the ruins of civil authority; in many instances they have been seen upholding the thrones of political tyranny; in no instance have they been seen the guardian of the liberties of the people."
On Jan. 16, 1786, James Madison, on behalf of Thomas Jefferson, secured passage of the Virginia Statute of Religious Liberty. From this statute, Madison, Jefferson and others forged the First Amendment: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."
Initially, the First Amendment applied only to Congress and the federal government. The Fourteenth Amendment, because of its due process clause, which guaranteed the rights to life, liberty and property, enabled the First Amendment to be used by the individual states. At that time six states had official religions or churches. In 1833, the last state, Massachusetts, passed an amendment to their state constitution by popular vote (at a margin of 10 to 1) to end state-sponsored religion.
The point is, the people who fought for our freedom and liberty believed that the choice and practice of religion to be a private, individual choice that was so important that a wall should be erected between the democratic majority rule government of We the People and the individual to be left alone and not have to participate in the religion of the majority.
Chuck Zimmerman Leesburg
Great Volunteers
Editor, Times-Union:It's been said many times before, but it still rings true: "Volunteers are our national treasure." And since the Old Jail Museum, the Pound Store and the Chinworth Bridge are the Kosciusko County Historical Society's treasures, all listed on the National Register of Historic Places, what could be more appropriate than for us to recognize and applaud our own dedicated volunteers?
These more than 80 men and women give freely and unselfishly of their time and efforts to keep us operating, and for that we thank them, one and all.
Jeanne E. Jones, Director Old Jail Museum, Warsaw
Softball
Editor, Times-Union:I wanted to write and let you know how much I enjoyed reading the sports article in Wednesday's paper regarding the Warsaw High School varsity softball team's opening game against Logansport.
My daughter and I are avid softball fans, and we really enjoyed reading the informative article. The pictures and stats were also great. I know this is a "basketball" community, but it is wonderful to see detailed articles with stats for the other high school teams as well. They work just as hard as basketball and deserve nice write-ups too.
Please keep up the good work, and I look forward to reading more great articles on the area's greatest softball team (Warsaw of course!).
Jane Wyatt Warsaw
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- Hot School Response - Favorite Drug Store - Winona Fire Department - Religious Freedom - Great Volunteers - Softball
Hot School Response
Editor, Times-Union:Please tell Warsaw Community Education Association president Terry Sims that my "Hot School" letter was in response to a statewide problem and that I have long been aware of the fact that Warsaw schools are not members of NEA, for which reason I have been proud of them. Mr. Sims, please reread my letter; it does not accuse Warsaw teachers of any wrongdoing or of being members of NEA. My letter was written in criticism of NEA's long history of "gimme-itis" and disrespect for the duties and responsibilities of the public school system.
The facts are: Warsaw does, along with the rest of the state, give its schools the spring break we now have during cool days, which could be exchanged for the debated and proposed August hot days that properly upset parents.
Yes, my comments did not reflect any great respect for NEA because it does not deserve such and didn't earn the respect of my two parents, each of whom taught in earlier days; and didn't earn respect of my wife, who was a teacher; nor of her mother, who taught most of her adult life. So I am not alone in my disapproval of the NEA policies that have long been detrimental to our children's educations. Many teachers feel similarly.
It is common practice by trained debaters to accuse someone else of being misleading and making false statements and then they precede by creating their own "paper tiger" picture or situation and then claim that the other speaker was against that new issue. I did not attack the Warsaw teachers whom I knew were not NEA members and of whom I am proud of that fact. Neither did I accuse Warsaw's teachers of going to NEA union meetings, so Mr. Sims, please reread my letter.
I, however, tried to point out that there were times when schools take a break and a lot of schools used to give that break so teachers can go to meetings at Indianapolis. If that practice has been universally discontinued, I stand corrected. However, when students and teachers take a break and instead of going to NEA meetings do their whatever, the point I tried to make still stands: Better use these cool days to extend the school year than use hot August days.
I am glad the lost snow days will be made up and I am not asking whether the lost days were paid. It is results each parent, each student and each teacher must strive for. The heat issue is an important issue and the reason I make my now-debated suggestions. I am glad Mr. Sims agrees that an important decision must be made, but I fail to see any constructive suggestions in his letter.
Yes, Mr. Sims, I do feel considerable dissatisfaction with the NEA's efforts to discard long-proved values and time-honored methods of teaching and replace such with either experimental or intentionally destructive concepts. I have better and more explicit terms to describe my feelings about NEA than Mr. Sims' term of "contempt," but that's not the issue. How do we settle the hot school problem? I am sure that the Warsaw Community Schools administration and school board are wrestling with the problem and for each of us to call them as he implies would only overload their secretaries. My letter sought to show people that we ordinary people can be heard and sometimes our ideas can be helpful. I am sorry Mr. Sims jumped to the conclusion that I was attacking his union.
I welcome any organization that serves to promote good teaching. Some people believe this and without pay teach their children at home, and many such students get higher grades on standardized tests than do the public school-taught students. This and other school problems should be reviewed in the public news media because the entire school system belongs to the people who pay for the school and supply the students.
Every parent and thinking person should be constuctively critical of our school system and should do whatever possible to make it better. If Mr. Sims' union has that goal, we should respect each other's efforts. Quality of teaching time spent is far more important than number of days spent, and resentment and anger give no constructive results.
Rex Bradt Warsaw
Favorite Drug Store
Editor, Times-Union:There is a little drug store about two blocks from me. What more could I ask for? It's such a help, you see. They are only a phone call away when I run out of pills in any given day. Since I no longer drive a car and to walk would be just too far, I just step to my phone and dial. In just a minute, a tiny little while, a voice says "This is Brennan's; may I help you?"
Another thing I appreciate is they deliver too, and this service is friendly and free because they bring my pills over with no fee. A good many years they have been a service to me. No other drug store could be better, you see. So, as long as I can, and have to take pills, Brennan's is the place for me to cure all my ills!
Juanita Harman Warsaw
Winona Fire Department
Editor, Times-Union:A few weeks ago Tom Skaggs, owner of Blosser's Camera & Video, donated a new video camera to the Winona Lake Fire Department. That event was pictured in this newspaper and words of appreciation and thank you have been exchanged by all who were involved.
The significance of this gift, however, is far more important to us and our community than most people realize. That significance was duly noted in a letter from our assistant fire chief/training officer, Ed Brown, to Mr. Skaggs. The following is a portion of that letter:
"Training is the most important element of a fire department. Without training, the risks to a firefighter and the people and property he is attempting to save become immeasurable ... The tool you have given our department will allow us endless opportunity to review our training exercises. In doing so, we will be able to effectively review and evaluate our strategies and procedures and further ensure the safety of our firefighters ... On the fire ground, there is no margin for error."
The Winona Lake Fire Department is grateful for this video camera. We will use this tool to expand all facets of our training activities and explore new ways to implement a variety of fire safety and community relations programs.
Rick Glass Public Information Officer Winona Lake Fire Department
Religious Freedom
Editor, Times-Union:A little history lesson from the Warsaw Public Library:
After the Revolutionary War but before the constitutional convention, the commonwealth of Virginia attempted to enact a bill to collect taxes for the "Teachers of the Christian Religion," which was supported by Patrick Henry. James Madison issued a decree called a Memorial and Remonstrance that stated "The religion then of every man must be left to the conviction and conscience of every man, and it is the right of every man to exercise it as these may dictate ... In some instances (ecclesiastical establishments) have been seen to erect a spiritual tyranny on the ruins of civil authority; in many instances they have been seen upholding the thrones of political tyranny; in no instance have they been seen the guardian of the liberties of the people."
On Jan. 16, 1786, James Madison, on behalf of Thomas Jefferson, secured passage of the Virginia Statute of Religious Liberty. From this statute, Madison, Jefferson and others forged the First Amendment: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."
Initially, the First Amendment applied only to Congress and the federal government. The Fourteenth Amendment, because of its due process clause, which guaranteed the rights to life, liberty and property, enabled the First Amendment to be used by the individual states. At that time six states had official religions or churches. In 1833, the last state, Massachusetts, passed an amendment to their state constitution by popular vote (at a margin of 10 to 1) to end state-sponsored religion.
The point is, the people who fought for our freedom and liberty believed that the choice and practice of religion to be a private, individual choice that was so important that a wall should be erected between the democratic majority rule government of We the People and the individual to be left alone and not have to participate in the religion of the majority.
Chuck Zimmerman Leesburg
Great Volunteers
Editor, Times-Union:It's been said many times before, but it still rings true: "Volunteers are our national treasure." And since the Old Jail Museum, the Pound Store and the Chinworth Bridge are the Kosciusko County Historical Society's treasures, all listed on the National Register of Historic Places, what could be more appropriate than for us to recognize and applaud our own dedicated volunteers?
These more than 80 men and women give freely and unselfishly of their time and efforts to keep us operating, and for that we thank them, one and all.
Jeanne E. Jones, Director Old Jail Museum, Warsaw
Softball
Editor, Times-Union:I wanted to write and let you know how much I enjoyed reading the sports article in Wednesday's paper regarding the Warsaw High School varsity softball team's opening game against Logansport.
My daughter and I are avid softball fans, and we really enjoyed reading the informative article. The pictures and stats were also great. I know this is a "basketball" community, but it is wonderful to see detailed articles with stats for the other high school teams as well. They work just as hard as basketball and deserve nice write-ups too.
Please keep up the good work, and I look forward to reading more great articles on the area's greatest softball team (Warsaw of course!).
Jane Wyatt Warsaw
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