Arrow-right Camera

Color Scheme

Subscribe now

This column reflects the opinion of the writer. Learn about the differences between a news story and an opinion column.

Support our schools

Finally, the hot, smoky summer days are behind us and our children our back in school. I applaud the volunteers escorting them on busy street corners.

The other day, two of my great-grandchildren visited me. What a joy, innocent, full of life, chatting, chatting. …

I asked, “How did you get to be so smart?”

“School!”

There you are, out of the mouths of babes.

They attend one of our Spokane public schools, and I could not be prouder or more grateful. My great-grandson had speech difficulties, but after receiving speech therapy, he could not stop talking!

As a toddler, he could not pronounce “grandmother”, and instead called me “Gemaya”. One day, after the help he received, he proudly proclaimed that not he can call me “grandmother.” I praised him, but he had to promise me that I will always be “Gemaya,” too.

Teachers, school psychologists and special counselors are caring for our children for half their lives. Therefore, parents have to do their part, too. Proper nutrition, adequate sleep, and respect and appreciation for our educators are essential.

Maybe among our children is a budding Chopin, Marie Curie, Einstein, or even a president.

That’s what I’m hoping for!

Halina Slobodow

Spokane

Letters Policy

The Spokesman-Review invites original letters on local topics of public interest. Your letter must adhere to the following rules:

  • No more than 250 words
  • We reserve the right to reject letters that are not factually correct, racist or are written with malice.
  • We cannot accept more than one letter a month from the same writer.
  • With each letter, include your daytime phone number and street address.
  • The Spokesman-Review retains the nonexclusive right to archive and re-publish any material submitted for publication.

Unfortunately, we don’t have space to publish all letters received, nor are we able to acknowledge their receipt. (Learn more.)

Submit letters using any of the following:

Our online form
Submit your letter here
Mail
Letters to the Editor
The Spokesman-Review
999 W. Riverside Ave.
Spokane, WA 99201
Fax
(509) 459-5098

Read more about how we crafted our Letters to the Editor policy