Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Teacher Deserves An ‘F’

A Borah High teacher deserved the reprimand he received for allowing a show-and-tell condom demonstration in his sex education class. Seems a Planned Parenthood representative used a wooden model of a penis to show high schoolers how to apply a condom.

Now, that might not bother some of you “with it” parents, but this ol’ fuddy-duddy believes such touchy-feely goofiness has no place in the classroom. In calling for Planned Parenthood to tone down its demonstrations, Idaho Family Forum Director Dennis Mansfield summed up my concerns: “Mothers and fathers did not send their children to school to have this kind of bankrupt 1960s philosophy impressed on their minds.”

Besides, Planned Parenthood is misleading kids with its claims that condoms provide adequate protection from pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

Gamble pays off at Skate Park

From my corner office on Northwest Boulevard, I’ve enjoyed watching skateboarders flock to the Coeur d’Alene Skate Park this fall. They migrated from Independence Point slowly until a half pipe was constructed.

Now, 50 or 60 at a time can be found there on weekends, weather permitting - preening, testing their nerve on unforgiving obstacles, scooting, jumping and simply hanging out.

Frankly, I didn’t know what to expect when the City Council and The Spokesman-Review donated a combined $20,000 to finish the park. My worst fears were realized when a couple of knuckleheads spray-painted graffiti on the barriers for the in-line roller rink. But they were brought to justice quickly.

Since then, the skateboarders have policed themselves well and deserve Sweet Potatoes for doing so - plus the continued confidence of us and the many others who pitched in to help.

These aren’t those Mariners

Some long-suffering Seattle fans lost their nerve when the M’s lost their last two regular season games and faced a sudden-death playoff with California. One fan sent me this pitiful message before pitcher Randy Johnson banished the Angels: “And you wondered why I wasn’t a ‘believer’? You want to know why? I’ve been a fan for 18 long years (sniff!), and the only difference between this year and every other year before it (sniff!) was that the choking began in August or July instead of early October (honk!).” The fan followed with this prediction: “Randy, arm tired, with momentum ebbing by each inning, will give up three homers, and we’ll lose 6-2.” If he were an Old Testament prophet, they’d stone him. When are you people going to believe?

, DataTimes MEMO: D.F. Oliveria’s “Hot Potatoes” runs Tuesdays and Thursdays. You can comment on the items by calling (800) 344-6718 or (208) 765-7125.

D.F. Oliveria’s “Hot Potatoes” runs Tuesdays and Thursdays. You can comment on the items by calling (800) 344-6718 or (208) 765-7125.