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Letters to the editor |
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Society's problems continue to grow
To the Editor: No matter how many armed guards you place in classrooms, no matter how many metal detectors you place at doors to every public building, no matter how many zero-tolerance policies you institute, so long as our politicians (and that most definitely includes the Jackson County School Board) continue to make deals with the devil that cause good people to be harmed, the anger, frustration and violence in our society will just continue to grow. The lesson the Jackson County School Board gave our children this day is this: If you work hard and play by the rules, you will still be trampled by people with enough money and/or influence to do as they please. No wonder our society is spinning out of control with rage. But, what the heck, "Let them eat cake." And if you don't know the significance of that statement, thank a football coach. Sincerely, Leslie Rojohn Sylva Students deserve more from school board To the Editor: After receiving my Sylva Herald and reading that there was a secret meeting to eliminate the valedictorian and salutatorian this year at Smoky Mountain High School, I had to write. This shows me a bunch of people who have no consideration for the other seniors. This bone-head decision will remain with the students for the rest of their lives. They have earned more respect than this type of decision from whomever made it. I think the people responsible for this should resign their posts and never be heard from again. The people of Sylva and Jackson County should insist that the school board and principal install the second choice as valedictorian to carry on with the graduation ceremony with no more dissention from anyone. Here's hoping the kids will have a graduation ceremony they will never forget. Sincerely, Harry E. Smith Oak Ridge, Tenn. We must speak out To the Editor: The world did not speak out when Nazi Germany started persecuting the Jews. Citizens and taxpayers of Jackson County should speak out on behalf of A.J. Rowell. I do not know A.J. Rowell or his parents, but I do know right from wrong. I believe it is very wrong to deny Mr. Rowell his "hour of honor." As trusted officials on behalf of our children, please reverse your decision and allow Mr. Rowell his earned right to be salutatorian of his Class of 2000 at Smoky Mountain High School. Sincerely, Oleta Zachary Cullowhee Eloise Shuler Buff Creek Character Program could help our town To the Editor: As a local business owner and resident of Sylva, I have discovered a great program that will help our community in many ways. It is called the Character Program and it's composed of three parts: city, school and business. We have an opportunity to send Sylva Mayor Brenda Oliver to the Indianapolis Mayors Conference to begin Sylva's Character Program. Things to not: - We will be leading the way for Western North Carolina as Sylva will be first to have this program. - Youth are sadly lacking character. To see churches and business band together would impress them with their leaders concerned for their future. - Many governors have declared their entire state "Character States." Oklahoma was first, while Georgia started last year. - Character is non-partisan - Democrats and Republicans both like it. Let's give Sylva headlines for good by building character instead of sitting, waiting and hoping for the youth to develop good character. We will need to raise the money to send Mayor Oliver to the conference and help with the cost of getting things started. The conference cost $450, while transportation is $300, for a total of $750. We need your help and support. A special account designated for this has been set up compliments of Carolina Community Bank. Any donation over $50 will be given a wall plaque certificate of recognition as a "Grassroots Character Developer." Let us become partners in improving the quality of life here in Sylva and Western North Carolina. Sincerely, Dr. John Caplinger Sylva Football coach selection committee raises question To the Editor: I am the vice president of the junior class and a peer mediator at Smoky Mountain High School, but more importantly, I am simply a student - a student with a voice, an opinion and a strong spirit of good morals. I feel it necessary to make it known that although there are large conflicts with the valedictorian crisis, there are also rising conflicts with the selection committee for the football coach. Before I wrote this letter I called two of the school board members to get my facts in order, but when I asked if any females were asked to be on the selection committee, I received conflicting answers. It is my understanding that this committee is an all-male committee. Surely the school board realizes that sexism is a controversial issue in today's society. Being a member of the female gender and a teenage woman in the 21st century, I personally am not asking for an invitation to sit on the committee, but it seems like some females should have been asked to serve, whether they were school board members, teachers or mothers. In regards to the comment made about football being as important as English, to me that statement is entirely false. My parents have always encouraged me to go as far in my education as possible so that in the future my success could be ensured by the help of the academics that I received. It seems if students focus only on sports they are not getting the education they need in order to get into college or get a good job. I would like to think that this is not just a conflict of interest, though sadly people actually think that a sport, only a minor part of Smoky Mountain High, can be as important as the whole educational program of a school. I would hope that the school board members would be more concerned with the education of students than with extracurricular activities. Cara Reid Sylva Positive difference needed for young people To the Editor: So the valedictorian came up a little less than perfect; the salutatorian does nothing but continue to make good grades, and they both get their honors stripped. A john is blown up and a group of kids is deprived of the education they'll need throughout their lives. Sounds like some things were wired wrong - like the synapses of a few adults. I challenge the school board members and administrators to show that they can make a positive difference in the lives of these young people. They didn't need you when they were making A's. But, regardless of who created their problems, they need your help and compassion now. Let's not send our youth the message that an ill-conceived, juvenile prank will bring them more recognition and notoriety than dedicating themselves to making excellent grades for four straight years. We can exact a pound of flesh, but society's best self-defense - individually and collectively, financially and socially - may well lie in how it treats its least powerful members, especially when all is not A-OK. Katherine Miller Webster Senator Edwards means what he says To the Editor: When Senator John Edwards talks about making government accessible to the average citizen, he stands behind his words. I have never made any contribution to any political campaign, but when I needed assistance in dealing with the Veteran's Administration to obtain my new home loan, the Senator's staff jumped on the situation immediately and helped me fight the red tape. I would not now have my home if it weren't for the senator and his staff. Senator Edward's words at Western Carolina University last Tuesday are backed up by real action. He means what he says. Brian Thompson Sylva A student's perspective To the Editor: We always knew we'd go out with a bang, but we never imagined it would be over an issue such as this. As seniors at Smoky Mountain High, we have certainly not been exempt from the effects of the ongoing controversy taking place in our school. People like to talk, but rarely does anyone speak up. We hate to be the ones to do it. We would gladly go on about our day and say, "I don't care," whenever this issue is brought up. But, unfortunately, our conscience won't let us. The school board, with its "secret" deal, has clearly effected more than just the Parker family. It has done an injustice to A.J. Rowell. And if you can see it from our perspective, it has also done an injustice to 184 other students who were not involved in the bombings - the graduating Class of 2000. Through the past four years, we have had several classes with both A.J. and Jennifer. Both of them have always had a very strong desire to be at the top - a quality that we admire and applaud. After seven semesters at school, Jennifer was slated to be the valedictorian and A.J. the salutatorian. Unfortunately, Jennifer (allegedly) made a mistake. A.J. didn't. Had she moved, transferred to a different school, etc., A.J. would have been bumped to the valedictorian position, and the current number three would be the salutatorian. We have seen the work A.J. has done throughout the past few years. He is obviously an excellent student, but he's also a great athlete who's involved in many extracurricular activities. But more than that, he's a friend, and in the least, he deserves to be named as our class' salutatorian. Anyone in his position would feel mistreated. Another side of this issue seems to have been overlooked. Last year, Smoky Mountain High School started requiring seniors to complete a Senior Project. This Senior Project involves an eight- to 10-page research paper, a 15 hour mentorship, and a presentation, including an eight- to 10-minute speech, to a panel of five judges on a particular subject of the student's choice. As seniors this year, we completed Senior Project last semester and felt great satisfaction with the end result. The reason for the satisfaction was the effort it took to produce something worthy enough to put our name on. Jennifer Parker was supposed to do a Senior Project this semester. However, since she is no longer attending Smoky Mountain High School, she doesn't have to. Okay, now try to follow this. She was a superior student, but she (allegedly) messed up. Mistake or not, she messed up. She doesn't have to come to school for the rest of the year, she doesn't have to complete a Senior Project, she has classes only a few days a week, and she still gets to keep her top position in our class. So what are you trying to tell us? Maybe the remaining 184 of us should go explode Port-A-Johns as well? Sincerely, Manisha Patel Elise Reynolds and many other concerned seniors Please: Have your pet spayed, neutered To the Editor: Against my better judgment, I stopped by to see the puppies on Saturday in front of Wal-Mart. There must have been 20 or more. Some very confident and friendly, others shaking and scared. I knelt beside one particular puppy - a very smart little fellow, you could see it in his demeanor... his eyes. He was looking back at me, wanting to find that special person he could claim as his own. He pressed against me as he braced against the cold wind. I cried. I desperately wanted to take him, but we now have three dogs (about 225 lbs.) The time for adoption was almost over that day, and I knew he would go home with his foster parent for the week. He is one of the lucky ones. But what about the puppies and kittens (not to mention the adult animals) who have been thrown away like something disposable now in our local shelters? Probably a number of them who were alive on Saturday have since been killed because there's always lots more of them on the way. And folks, this is the "slow" time, winter; the busy season for unwanted babies is yet to come. Feb. 29 has been designated as National Spay and Neuter Day by the American Humane Society. If you have a fertile male or female pet, I beg you to find a way to have it neutered. If you need a push, just do what I did. Stop and take a good, long look into the faces of those most deserving of creatures; then make that appointment with your vet. Please. Margo Gray Webster |
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