Letters
Dogfighting excuse wrongheaded
Whoopi Goldberg’s defense of Michael Vick on “The View” regarding his recent dogfighting case was wrong. Goldberg stated that “in the South, dogfighting isn’t that unusual,” as if that excuses and explains the cruel behavior of this “sport.”
Slavery was also “not that unusual” in the South until people realized or were made to realize its injustice and cruelty. Would she explain away slaveholders with this same logic?
VICKIE KEANEY Fort Wayne
Parents liable for kids’ education
This retired educator enjoyed reading Peter Schrag’s article, “Schoolhouse crock” (Sept. 9). I was reminded of all the “magic strategies” that were designed to bring out the best in our students but always seemed to fall short of the goal. Powerful ideas spoken by powerful people supported by powerful money continued, but we were elusive in identifying the “golden solution” that solved everybody’s wish. Why was and is that?
Schrag’s article included powerful reasons why public schools are not as successful as everyone would like. I find it difficult to lay the responsibility of these challenges on the educational doorstep. Our society has somehow made public schools accountable for issues that have little to do with the education of our students.
A state law says that the responsibility of the education of children lies with their parents. Our state has established an educational system so that parents may delegate this responsibility. This, however, does not remove the parents from the ultimate responsibility.
When things begin to go wrong, parents should schedule a meeting with their child and the teacher and begin to ask questions about why the child isn’t doing well, why the teacher is having difficulty teaching the child and how can the problems be fixed.
And if the teacher requests a meeting, it should be the responsibility of the parents to attend that meeting.
I know too many bone-weary teachers who teach their souls out each and every day, but are beginning to feel more and more like puppets.
RAY BEIGHTS Fort Wayne
Public schools teach bad morals
Regarding Kerry Miller’s letter, “Standards needed for home schools” (Sept. 12): It is not that students don’t have curricula, they are simply not required to follow the state’s curricula.
It is not the government’s job to say what my child learns. The government wants to teach my children that sex outside of marriage is OK as long as you use a condom and that getting an abortion is OK. It wants to allow lobbying groups like the National Education Association to direct curricula, including the mandate to teach a radical homosexual agenda to all students in public schools. The government wants to require all middle school-age girls to have the human hapillomavirus (HPV) vaccine because the government believes all teens will have sex and to teach my children that God doesn’t belong in the Pledge of Allegiance. These are “elements of the culture” that my daughter doesn’t need to learn in school.
I also don’t believe my daughter needs to learn that it is OK to wear skimpy clothing or listen to offensive music. The cultural values of decency, modesty and discipline are out the window at most public schools.
DAWN WOOTEN Fort Wayne
Council enacting unwise laws
We have the smoking police, and now we have the sign police thanks to the infinite wisdom of our City Council. I assume the average homeowner cannot put up a sign for a garage sale. I propose the council enact the “blue law” again. Everybody go to church Sunday morning and watch the NFL beat up one another in the afternoon. I’ll bet the retailers and restaurants would love that.
AL SCHMIDT Fort Wayne
Restrict number of trees removed
Fixing the Combined Sewage Overflow issue will cost all taxpayers. Why do we continue to allow big-box and strip-mall developers to level and create surface parking in huge excess of their customer base – which contributes vastly to the overflow problem? A recent Purdue University study showed that for each family, there are more than 11 parking spaces. I’m unaware of many families with 11 automobiles. In Tippecanoe County there are more than twice the number of parking spaces as there are residents.
Why do we need this ? Maryland has guidelines in place that mandate a percentage of greenway versus parking. It is beautiful there. In Fort Wayne it seems we believe in turning every square foot of land into a flat parking lot. On Dupont and Lima roads and on Dupont and Tonkel roads, every single tree was removed from the properties to prepare for strip malls and big box stores.
I would like to see the city beautify Fort Wayne and save taxpayers’ money by restricting the percentage of mature trees and greenway that can be leveled by developers.
DAVID CORCORAN Fort Wayne
Police officer devoted to job
Shame on Police Chief Rusty York for his inability to fight for Officer Kelly Thomas. Not only has the city of Fort Wayne lost a dedicated officer, I have lost what little confidence I had with the media exploring all the facts. It never ceases to amaze me how every negative aspect is exploited while leaving any positive attributes at the wayside. Officer Thomas is a good man, police officer and friend. Anyone who has had the opportunity to see him in action knows this to be true.
KIM ANDERSON Fort Wayne