Letters To The Editor

SCHOOLS, TRANSPORTATION AND SAFETY

Children were not victims

No wonder some of the children on the school bus from Logan Elementary acted the way they did. From what I read, they learned their behavior from their parents.

I can understand the parents being worried when the bus was late. But why, after they located their children and saw they were OK did parents storm the bus and create additional problems? The driver did the best he could, according to the rules. Now, some of the parents want to form a support group for the kids. What a laugh.

How about supporting your children instead, as they accept responsibility for the problem, and hold them accountable for their behavior? To the parents who overreacted, set a good example by apologizing to the driver, managers, etc., for creating an even bigger scene. Those children need to be supported as they learn to be more patient and make better choices. They don’t need to be made to feel as if they are victims. Goodness knows, we have enough victims already. Janice Duvanich Spokane

Parents’ failure cause of trouble

Several weeks ago, our bus was late getting home so I called Laidlaw Transportation and was promptly informed (after the dispatcher had checked with the driver by CB) that our bus was still sitting at school, with the principal and another person on the bus trying to do what parents don’t. The parents’ theory is “get them out the door and forget them until they walk back through the door.” It’s not the responsibility of principals, teachers or bus drivers to train these kids. If they were made to mind at home, they would know how to behave at school or on the bus.

I would rather have my three granddaughters come home late than have to go to the morgue to identify their remains because a driver watching these Dennis the Menace types in the rearview mirror didn’t see a speed demon who ran a red light.

Many of these kids get more love, attention and caring at school than they do at home.

I applaud the school bus driver who pulled over and waited. He at least cared. What would have happened if one of the little angels had pulled out a pocketknife to show the others and the driver had had to put on the brakes?

I stand behind Sheridan Elementary School, the teachers and Tom, our bus driver on route 174, because they care and have the interest and safety of our children on their minds all the time. Datha Aguilar Spokane

Incident, response deplorable

I was saddened by the news about children and a driver having a row on the highway.

Aside from the danger, I was more shocked to see that the driver was going to be sent to a special training course because of obviously incorrigible children who’ve never been trained correctly. We don’t seem to get it, that political correctness will cause more and more of these incidents.

When I was a child, I remember my father taking a busload to the police station when they would not listen and be quiet. He never had another problem. Nowadays, the bus driver and the school would be sued if this were ever tried. This used to be standard procedure.

Maybe the mother who thinks we are living in Russia will have second thoughts when her child is brought before the justice for antisocial, maybe criminal behavior because she has never controlled him. Harvey Fritz Moses Lake

A too-common problem

They may not have a conscience, although since my son did not ride the bus to his District 81 school, I don’t know.

If the driver did raise his hand to a child, he was wrong and should admit it.

On the other hand, having driven school bus in another venue, I can see the scene repeated many times over. What happens, most often, is that an unruly element deliberately stirs up trouble both with the other children and the driver, particularly if the driver is a substitute who hasn’t driven the route long enough to recognize those ringleaders who routinely make trouble.

I won’t pretend I know that’s what happened in this case, but it’s a chronic enough problem to where I think parents and children should consider their own role in keeping the peace. Philip J. Mulligan Spokane

PUBLIC SAFETY

Don’t go overboard with crime fear

I, too, voted no on the gun initiative. Bad law is bad law. Criminals don’t obey gun laws and idiots don’t exhibit common sense. However, the hyperbole from gun advocates seems to miss the target on the issue of guns and home protection.

Most homes are burglarized when the occupants aren’t home. Criminals tend to avoid confrontation. Loaded weapons stashed in nightstands are more likely to be stolen than be used for defense.

When burglars do enter an occupied home, it’s usually at night. When I am awakened from a deep sleep, I can no more find, aim and shoot an alert, moving target than I can sing opera.

The most important issue people seem to have forgotten in these times of media hysteria is that random violence is still extremely rare. More people are murdered by someone they know than by a stranger. Police are more afraid of domestic disputes than of gang warfare. Most random crime occurs in the inner city. Quiet suburbs are still very safe.

The idea that a sadistic child molester or doped up killer lurks in every dark corner is groundless. Random violence happens, but only rarely.

People in my neighborhood still take evening walks and try to meet their neighbors. Our kids still walk to school without paranoid parent-chaperones.

To those of you who are fearful and rushing to buy pistols for self-protection: Put down the gun, stop being afraid and say hi to a neighbor. Sam J. Thomas Veradale

PEOPLE IN SOCIETY

Schizophrenics not all dangerous

I was horrified by syndicated columnist Ellen Goodman’s characterization of Nushawn Williams as either a “monster” or a “schizophrenic.” Far from making a distinction, Goodman conflates the two categories by insinuating that only these two types of (sub?)humans are capable of the abhorrent acts of which Williams is accused.

This confirms the most damaging stereotype people have about schizophrenics - namely, that they are dangerous. In fact, a schizophrenic is more likely to be a victim of a crime than a perpetrator.

Your paper has an unfortunate habit of mentioning the mental state of many criminals, whether it be Barry Loukaitis, Debra Eik, or your recent piece on Dean Mellberg.

I wish you would think twice before using such information in your crime articles, since it reinforces the misconception people have about schizophrenics.

I am a healthy schizophrenic (I do not consider that an oxymoron). My disease is being successfully treated with medication, although it has not been eradicated. For me to claim the latter would be a good sign that I was sick. I would like to get a full-time job that would eliminate my need for income, medical and housing assistance from the government. In order to do that, I must conceal my diagnosis or be thought of as dangerous.

How long will I have to keep secret from prospective employers? David Rottmayer Spokane

Lack of physical beauty crippling

Regarding the Miss Spokane Scholarship Pageant, any girl who is thin, beautiful and wants to further her career can be in the contest. But, if you are fat and ugly or not quite what everybody wants, you might as well forget it.

It’s tough enough for those who aren’t physically beautiful to excel. They have to work three times as hard as beautiful people. Studies have shown that beautiful people get called on more in class, get more help with studies, etc. But if you’re not one of them, you get nothing.

How many times have you seen an ugly girl or boy get anything? Come on, let’s get together with this. Cathy A. Franz Coeur d’Alene

OTHER TOPICS

No limbo in Springdale

Again, staff writer John Craig has it all wrong (Nov. 21, article, “Challenge to 1 ballot keeps mayor’s race in limbo.”) We don’t know where he gets his information but we think he should check it out. The Stevens County auditor’s office has certified the mayor race and Dan Hite won.

Don Wilma does not and has never lived in Springdale. He only registered to vote this October. He freely admits to how he voted, according to Craig’s article. Wilma has a personal and financial interest in the race’s outcome due to the town’s attempted illegal annexation it tried to force on the people.

Springdale did establish an interim growth area but it doesn’t extend beyond the current town limits, which is the basis of Judge Baker’s decision, that the town annexed the property beyond the boundary.

At the October council meeting, the council adopted a new plan and sent it to the county. Public hearings begin Dec. 2 at 2:30 p.m. at the county courthouse in Colville, room 215. This new plan is to extend the boundary to accommodate the 80 acres. Interested persons should attend or write to the commissioners.

We don’t believe law enforcement was an issue in the political process. All we heard was that Jerry Taylor told several people that if Dan Hite were elected, he would resign. Springdale voters chose their new officials and don’t need to read any more half truths, innuendoes, speculation and flat out lies in the Good Paper. Pat and Lonnie Anderson Springdale, Wash.