Letters to the Editor 06-17-2005
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Intelligent Responses Editor, Times-Union:
Intelligent Responses Editor, Times-Union:
To begin with, I'd like to thank Sherri Parker, Joe Gamble, Lacey Shewman and Brittany Kusserow for their kind and intelligent responses in regards to my question about the class motto of the senior graduating class of Tippecanoe Valley High School. Whether I agree or not with their interpretations isn't what's most important to me. The fact that they respected me enough to discuss maturely their differing views brightens my day.It seems that society today believes in only "black or white" issues. We live in a day when either you "agree with me or you're wrong" attitudes are the norm. Thank you for softening that feeling.
I do want to apologize for one of my remarks. Although you are probably wrong as to which one it is. I regret mentioning the "get up on my soapbox" remark. I've spent the past couple of weeks reviewing my beliefs, values, and conceptions on what's important to me. No longer will I use my soapbox because it has one fatal flaw. I believe that as soon as you step "up", you immediately start looking down on people. The moment you look down on someone, whatever comes out of your mouth is tainted. As the saying goes ... "Those without sin cast the first stone". I don't think any of us deserve to even toss a pebble under that belief. Something else I learned real quick because of this public letter was, people are quick to stand by you in private, but when the fire gets warmer, you get mighty lonely. Lesson learned on my part. I guess learning is a process that goes with ups and downs. I can accept that. I always want to learn how great life is.
Before I end this letter though, I'd like to tell you my life motto. It wasn't said by someone famous, rich or even historical. It was said by an ordinary person who lived an ordinary life, which is why it's so special to me. It goes simply ... "I'd rather see a sermon than hear one any day". Again, congratulations to all the graduating seniors in all the surrounding school systems. Have a great summer and a safe one, too.
Duane Herendeen
Warsaw !end Altered School Year Editor, Times-Union:
Well summer is almost here, the kids are out of school, and it's going to be time register them again in about eight weeks. Many things have changed over time, yet school never does seem to change except starting earlier every year and getting out later in June each year.
Getting ready to have our last child be a senior in the 2005-2006 school year, I've gone through the routine many times. How about a change in the school year that might actually work or give it a try ... even for just one year?
You would start the school year on the first full week of April. The first Monday would be the first teacher day. The first Tuesday would be the first student day. In 2005, it would have been April 4-5. The next day off would be Memorial Day, then Fourth of July, then Labor Day in September, then Thanksgiving Day and the day after in November. April would be 19 days of school, May 21 days, June 22 days, July 20 days, August 23 days, September 21 days, October 21 days, November 20 days, December 13 days would make up the 180 days needed for a child to be in school. The last student day would be Dec. 19, The last teacher day would be the 20th. You would then have 15 to 16 weeks off.
You have eliminated the week of spring break cause you would always start the first full week of April. You would have the same holidays off as your working parents so that would still allow "family time" on those days. School would be out a week before Christmas so you have eliminated the two weeks off at Christmas like usual. You have virtually eliminated snow days and fog days because we usually don't get too much snow between Thanksgiving and only about three weeks into December unless you have an exception year. The threat of a bus breaking down in subzero weather and icy hazardous back roads would be a thing of the past. Very cold wind chill days for kids needing to stand outside waiting would be gone. Since snow days would be over the parents would not be as inconvenienced by missing work or finding at the last moment a baby sitter because school was closed.
I know people will say we would need to put in air conditioning in the schools. Well my summer central cooling goes up about $20 a month in the summer to cool my house from 90 degrees to 70. But to heat with natural gas in the winter from zero to 70 is just a tiny bit more than $20 on my NIPSCO bill, it's usually a three-digit increase. So the schools could set a little cooler through the winter months. It would also give the bus garage and custodians double the weeks to work on projects they need to do or get done. Sports would have to adjusted some for after school in the summer along with marching band. I know some hold those as high extra curricular activities but I have yet to have an employer ask what instrument I played in band or how many points I scored on a sports team. If children had the same days off as above they would also be more prepared for an actual real life work force year that many people actually live out.
Joe Beezley
Warsaw !end Recycling Falls Short Editor, Times-Union:
In response to "proper recycling": The recycling program is a good and wonderful thing if it worked. The program is a far cry from help in the fact that I have a college education and still am ignorant of what is recyclable and what is not! People do not recycle for the simple fact that they do not know what is or isn't recyclable.
I believe that if you want to have a good program you must provide an incentive and make it easy enough a 3-year-old can do it. I am not saying everybody is stupid, it is just that you are dealing with a lazy culture. People don't want to have to think about it or be made to do it. If you want people to buy into the idea, you must make it attractive so they will want to do it with little to no effort. I am not excluding myself from being part of this lazy culture either. I don't care enough about the program to do anything about it myself. I will continue to send all my refuse to the landfill until.
Darin Tudor
Winona Lake !end
[[In-content Ad]]
Latest News
E-Editions
- Intelligent Responses Editor, Times-Union:
Intelligent Responses Editor, Times-Union:
To begin with, I'd like to thank Sherri Parker, Joe Gamble, Lacey Shewman and Brittany Kusserow for their kind and intelligent responses in regards to my question about the class motto of the senior graduating class of Tippecanoe Valley High School. Whether I agree or not with their interpretations isn't what's most important to me. The fact that they respected me enough to discuss maturely their differing views brightens my day.It seems that society today believes in only "black or white" issues. We live in a day when either you "agree with me or you're wrong" attitudes are the norm. Thank you for softening that feeling.
I do want to apologize for one of my remarks. Although you are probably wrong as to which one it is. I regret mentioning the "get up on my soapbox" remark. I've spent the past couple of weeks reviewing my beliefs, values, and conceptions on what's important to me. No longer will I use my soapbox because it has one fatal flaw. I believe that as soon as you step "up", you immediately start looking down on people. The moment you look down on someone, whatever comes out of your mouth is tainted. As the saying goes ... "Those without sin cast the first stone". I don't think any of us deserve to even toss a pebble under that belief. Something else I learned real quick because of this public letter was, people are quick to stand by you in private, but when the fire gets warmer, you get mighty lonely. Lesson learned on my part. I guess learning is a process that goes with ups and downs. I can accept that. I always want to learn how great life is.
Before I end this letter though, I'd like to tell you my life motto. It wasn't said by someone famous, rich or even historical. It was said by an ordinary person who lived an ordinary life, which is why it's so special to me. It goes simply ... "I'd rather see a sermon than hear one any day". Again, congratulations to all the graduating seniors in all the surrounding school systems. Have a great summer and a safe one, too.
Duane Herendeen
Warsaw !end Altered School Year Editor, Times-Union:
Well summer is almost here, the kids are out of school, and it's going to be time register them again in about eight weeks. Many things have changed over time, yet school never does seem to change except starting earlier every year and getting out later in June each year.
Getting ready to have our last child be a senior in the 2005-2006 school year, I've gone through the routine many times. How about a change in the school year that might actually work or give it a try ... even for just one year?
You would start the school year on the first full week of April. The first Monday would be the first teacher day. The first Tuesday would be the first student day. In 2005, it would have been April 4-5. The next day off would be Memorial Day, then Fourth of July, then Labor Day in September, then Thanksgiving Day and the day after in November. April would be 19 days of school, May 21 days, June 22 days, July 20 days, August 23 days, September 21 days, October 21 days, November 20 days, December 13 days would make up the 180 days needed for a child to be in school. The last student day would be Dec. 19, The last teacher day would be the 20th. You would then have 15 to 16 weeks off.
You have eliminated the week of spring break cause you would always start the first full week of April. You would have the same holidays off as your working parents so that would still allow "family time" on those days. School would be out a week before Christmas so you have eliminated the two weeks off at Christmas like usual. You have virtually eliminated snow days and fog days because we usually don't get too much snow between Thanksgiving and only about three weeks into December unless you have an exception year. The threat of a bus breaking down in subzero weather and icy hazardous back roads would be a thing of the past. Very cold wind chill days for kids needing to stand outside waiting would be gone. Since snow days would be over the parents would not be as inconvenienced by missing work or finding at the last moment a baby sitter because school was closed.
I know people will say we would need to put in air conditioning in the schools. Well my summer central cooling goes up about $20 a month in the summer to cool my house from 90 degrees to 70. But to heat with natural gas in the winter from zero to 70 is just a tiny bit more than $20 on my NIPSCO bill, it's usually a three-digit increase. So the schools could set a little cooler through the winter months. It would also give the bus garage and custodians double the weeks to work on projects they need to do or get done. Sports would have to adjusted some for after school in the summer along with marching band. I know some hold those as high extra curricular activities but I have yet to have an employer ask what instrument I played in band or how many points I scored on a sports team. If children had the same days off as above they would also be more prepared for an actual real life work force year that many people actually live out.
Joe Beezley
Warsaw !end Recycling Falls Short Editor, Times-Union:
In response to "proper recycling": The recycling program is a good and wonderful thing if it worked. The program is a far cry from help in the fact that I have a college education and still am ignorant of what is recyclable and what is not! People do not recycle for the simple fact that they do not know what is or isn't recyclable.
I believe that if you want to have a good program you must provide an incentive and make it easy enough a 3-year-old can do it. I am not saying everybody is stupid, it is just that you are dealing with a lazy culture. People don't want to have to think about it or be made to do it. If you want people to buy into the idea, you must make it attractive so they will want to do it with little to no effort. I am not excluding myself from being part of this lazy culture either. I don't care enough about the program to do anything about it myself. I will continue to send all my refuse to the landfill until.
Darin Tudor
Winona Lake !end
[[In-content Ad]]
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092