Letters To The Editor

Fri., July 10, 1998

SPOKANE MATTERS

Wal-Mart’s chosen site un-neighborly

The July 6 Roundtable guest column presented an extremely one-sided view of the Wal-Mart controversy on the North Side. The county commissioners met Tuesday night to hear an appeal by Wal-Mart on the hearing examiner’s decision not to approve the rezoning. This article could give the impression that there is strong support for this business.

David Nelson’s agenda is to make money from his property. I have no complaint with that. I do have complaints about a major business in my back yard, with possible 24-hour operation, lights, noise, traffic and crime. Northpointe Shopping Center has already left us with glowing night skies and increased noise and traffic. We do not need another business which will further degrade our living conditions.

There are currently 33 acres zoned commercial directly across from the proposed building site. I can only assume that Wal-Mart is unwilling to pay the price for commercial property, preferring rather to destroy stable neighborhoods for its own financial gain.

The work on Highway 2 that Wal-Mart will pay for is only a part of that needed to handle the traffic (which is already very congested and dangerous). Who pays the rest of the bill? How many roads will go unrepaired because of deflected tax dollars?

We appreciate your editorial stand against the damage that will come to our neighborhoods as a result of this proposal. Say no to neighborhood deterioration and to a very unneighborly Wal-Mart. Donald F. Calbreath Spokane

Talbott against all gambling

In a letter to the editor, “Casinos undermine charitable efforts,” by Donald N. Kaufman, general managing director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Spokane County, the name of Mayor John Talbott is used out of context to serve biased needs.

The mayor said, “The governor made a horrible mistake. … He doesn’t know how poor Spokane is. … It’s the people at the bottom who will take the chance and try to hit it big. Then they will lose their house, everything. … We’re putting a casino right next to a prison in an area where we have families already in trouble.”

The mayor opposes gambling of all kinds. He will not pit one business against another! Gambling and its results touch all individuals, whether profit or nonprofit. Edward Thomas Jr. Spokane

Better potholes than gambling troubles

Re: “Spokane not likely to fold cardrooms” (July 3).

The City Council has said it has not heard enough of a public outcry to ban casino-style cardrooms in Spokane. I urge the citizens of Spokane to call or write your City Council if you feel as I do that Spokane is taking a huge step in the wrong direction by allowing these cardrooms throughout our city. When has gambling ever been a good force to have in one’s city?

I was glad the City Council voted to keep the 20 percent tax rate on these cardrooms, hoping they would be taxed to death and have to close. Initially, I thought it was a good way to generate money to fix Spokane’s streets, etc. But where there is gambling there is always greed and allowing more cardrooms to open (six restaurants currently are awaiting approval) would be the city’s part in that greed.

I never thought I would say this, but I would rather drive on streets full of potholes than have our city head in this direction. Kris R. Schulte Spokane

There’s a better way for Spokane Club

The Spokane Club needs to face the fact that it’s outgrowing its location. The new parking garage proposal may buy the club time for now, but what’s going to happen when it needs to expand again?

I propose that the club find a new location. There is one readily available less than a quarter mile away, at the north end of the Monroe Street Bridge. It’s vacant land just waiting for development.

The club can become the anchor for the new metropolitan development and build itself a new facility which could meet its needs for many years. The club could keep its old facility for office space, sell or lease it out. Charles O. Greenwood Spokane

Spokane people were helpful, kind

Recently, on a trip to Spokane, I had the misfortune to fall while walking, breaking my arm in two places.

I wish to honor the wonderful people who came to my assistance, including a passing nurse, fireman and policeman and four paramedics who appeared on the scene within minutes.

The care and concern of all persons was most heart-touching. Although I have no names and addresses, my sincere, warmest, best wishes coupled with bountiful thanks are sent your way.

Know that your city has many undercover angels who appear when help is needed. Blessing on you all! Joyce O’Doherty Grand Forks, British Columbia

SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION

More ‘Twilight Zone’ than Dark Ages

Jeanette Faulkner’s July 5 commentary (“What we’re doing works because God lights their way”) is contradictory and inaccurate.

While some trends in modern education are ineffective, she exaggerates the problem.

She states that modern education does not include “anything published before 1990 by white authors.” Many classics written by “dead white men,” however, are still taught in schools, along with relatively modern literature, which is necessary for a balanced curriculum.

Her assertion that only “pop educators” accept the theory of evolution is absurd, as is her association of Darwin with a “ghost of Christlessness Past.” Darwin himself was Christian, and many committed Christians accept the theory.

Faulkner’s claim that “the extraordinary discoveries of Christian scientists in the Middle Ages still form the backbone of today’s science” is simply untrue. The Middle Ages were a time of scientific stagnation in Europe; most of the scant Christian scientific thought of the time involved reconciling the scientific teachings of other cultures with Christian doctrine.

Ironically, Faulkner chooses to compare the solar system to education. The idea of a heliocentric system was not accepted until well after the Middle Ages, and even then, with considerable resistance from the Christian church. Furthermore, although Faulkner refers to teaching her daughter according to Medieval tradition, in the Middle Ages neither she nor her daughter would have had a chance to be educated.

Faulkner’s idealization of Medieval education is a fiction. Perhaps she should reconsider her condemnation of recent history’s modest attempts to provide a fair, comprehensive education to all. Laura Kogler Liberty Lake

Ignorance of home schooling confirmed

The July 5 article concerning home schooling attempted to be unbiased but its subtitle reeked of ignorance: “Home-schooled kids test well, but isolation a concern.”

I home-school my only son, who is 8. We not only work at home but attend many home-school functions such as spelling bees, science fairs, field trips, YMCA sports and other educational functions - all exposing him to social skills.

Last year, he attended school for a short time. The second-grade teacher expressed her concern at how he would adjust to a classroom of peers and rules. Her fears were unwarranted, as she reported that he “fit in as if he had always been in school.”

Every reaction to my choice to home school is contaminated with uninformed views on isolation and socialization. Why would I want to put my child in public school? To be educated in the homosexual agenda; to learn about sex, drugs and violence; to be exposed to pagan religions such as Buddhism and New Age practices, when Christianity is banned; to learn disrespect and rebellion from peers raised in permissive homes with no moral- and character-building absolutes? No, school is not like it was when I grew up -it’s worse.

After six weeks of school, I picked up my son and he made an interesting comment: “Mom, I’m getting dumber since I started going to school.” We made the choice together to resume home schooling. Even an 8-year-old can see the tragedy of the failing school system.

Hats off to home schoolers! Cindy Scinto Greenacres

Science owes Christianity few thanks

Jeanette Faulkner’s approach to traditional education (Street Level, July 5) may work wonders for her children, and there is much in her thinking that is valuable.

But I can’t let pass her reference to the “extraordinary discoveries of Christian scientists in the Middle Ages” without pointing out that many of those scientists and philosophers were exiled, condemned and/or executed by their own Christian church.

In fact, traditional Christianity has opposed virtually each and every scientific advance for hundreds of years, right down to our own day.

Referring to carbon dating and evolution as flawed theories sidesteps the major point that science is in a constant state of revision based on new data, as opposed to religious truth, which somehow remains cast in stone, although it does indeed differ from culture to culture.

There are many other religions besides Christianity that believe “God is the creator and sustainer of the universe.” While it is certainly helpful not to turn away from our millennia of accumulated wisdom, education and tradition, claiming as “true” the religion that happens to be that of the prevailing community results in parochial, insular thinking.

Faulkner has perceived part of the puzzle, but she errs if she believes a conservative, Christian approach is required to bring her and her charges closer to universal truth.

However, super bravos are in order for her exposing her children to Thucydides, Shakespeare and Luther. Please leave some room for Spinoza and Nietzsche! Fred Glienna Coeur d’Alene

Inconsistencies tell the real story

The July 5 article, “Independent study,” contained the following comment regarding home education: “I really believe you have to have a degree in education to teach.” (Judy Bieze, public school teacher).

Another section of the article revealed the following information: “Those (home educated students) who took the 1996 Iowa Tests of Basic Skills scored significantly higher than public school students in Idaho and across the country.” Hmmm.

Further, Bieze drew our attention to the idea that some students who have been home educated have trouble adjusting if they return to public school. In some cases, this may be true; however, we must be careful in laying blame on “home education.” In fact, the front page of the July 6 Spokesman-Review painted an eerie picture of public school “adjustment problems” when home education wasn’t involved - “Fennell has been hit, kicked and spit at as a teacher. … Her assailants were first graders.” Hmmm.

And, as for Michael Shearer’s concern about isolation,- I’m sorry that his “home schooling” experience (apparently) wasn’t a healthy one.

As home-educated children, my teenagers take part in youth group, 4-H, band, choir, youth sports and several other things, as well as having their personal circle of friends that they just “hang” with occasionally. And, because we are a “home-based” family, we know who they’re hanging with and where they’re hanging.

From where we stand, looks like there are some home school advantages. Denise Gerlitz Endicott, Wash.

Facts lost in the gathering dimness

In April, the National Academy of Sciences, an organization of nearly 2,000 of the nation’s most distinguished scientists, issued guidelines for public school science instruction. In these, it describes the theory of evolution as “the most important concept of modern biology, a concept essential to understanding the key aspects of living things.” (see www.nap.edu/readingroom/books/evolution98)

According to Dr. Bruce Alberts, NAS president and one of the guideline’s authors, ‘The widespread misunderstandings about evolution are of great concern to the scientific community and the academy.”

Jeanette Faulkner’s defense of a Dark Ages-style education (Street Level, July 5) provides a vivid example of the type of misunderstanding that evokes such concern among mainstream scientists. In her attempt to discredit evolutionary theory, she claims, “Even scientific journals are starting to say out loud that carbon dating and evolution are flawed theories.” Actually, it appears to be Faulkner’s understanding of the scientific literature that is seriously flawed. If there are meaningful flaws with these theories, the greatest scientific minds in the country have no knowledge of them.

Our nation’s most gifted high school students consistently place near the bottom in international science competitions. Clearly, the current educational system is failing to adequately equip our young people for success in an increasingly more technologically oriented world.

If Faulkner has her way, we will put them at even further disadvantage by denying them knowledge of the theory that stands as the central organizing principle of the modern biological sciences. Jack R. DeBaun Sandpoint

Results contradict common notions

Thank you for your recent article discussing the pros and cons of home schooling. As a home school mother of four, I feel the need to respond to a couple of points made against home schooling.

First, if parents “cannot be as effective as certified teachers,” then why do home schoolers score in the 76th percentile on the basic skills test, as your article stated? I think the test results speak for themselves.

Secondly, home schoolers are not “isolated from their peers.” They interact with neighbors, family members, church friends and fellow home schoolers. Many of us own family businesses and involve our children as much as possible.

Home schoolers are very well-rounded, spiritually, emotionally and physically. Mary T. Nicholls Airway Heights

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