Letters to the editor
To Polson parents
It is our opinion that our children are being failed because the Polson school board and administration are not providing adequate support and resources to the teachers.
We, as parents, have become very frustrated with the lack of education our children are receiving in the Polson Elementary School District (Cherry Valley Elementary School, Linderman Elementary School, Polson Middle School). We have observed through our own children that their educational needs are not being met and have talked to numerous parents who shared similar frustrations.
Several teachers have told us they are frustrated as well. In our opinion, this lack of support and lack of resources has resulted in an educational approach of trying to educate the majority while leaving those who need additional enrichment opportunities to become disengaged with subjects because they are beyond the topic or don’t understand it. In review of the agendas of the Polson school board we have discovered a serious absence of items reflecting their mission of educating children.
We have met with several parents and contemplated how to improve the educational opportunities of our children. We have determined that since our sons have not had opportunities because of the lack of support and resources, we are going to exercise our right not to permit our children to participate in CRT (standardized) testing during the next two months at Linderman Elementary School and Polson Middle School.
When the Polson School District provides the teachers with the support and resources needed to educate each child in the district, we will provide our children to be tested. Please contact us if there are any parents who would like to discuss the content of this letter.
Lori and Mark Russell
Polson
Beef prices
Over the past few days there have been several articles in the weekly and daily papers reporting how Montana’s livestock producers are receiving record high prices for their animals. That may be true, but there is another side of the story.
We all know that costs keep going up. That is part of life. Just look at the cost of gasoline. Livestock producers face the same issue as the rest of us. Their production costs rise every year while the prices they receive for their product fluctuate due to supply numbers and other market forces, such as the drought in Texas. In lean years these producers cut back on equipment purchases, weed control, labor expenses and general maintenance costs of running a livestock operation. In better years, such as now, these same business operators buy new equipment, catch up on their weed control program, repair their fences, hire more help, increase their business infrastructure maintenance and reduce debt. The majority of this money is spent in the local trade area.
We should all be thankful that livestock prices have caught up with inflation. A healthy livestock industry in Montana is good for all of us. It provides a choice of food products as well as the open space that we all value so much. The next time you shop for groceries, say a word of thanks to the rancher and farmer. They take enormous risks to remain in business and continue to be good neighbors.
Chuck Jarecki
Polson
Best they can be
I am very impressed with the most recent edition of the Salishian, and I want to thank the Leader for publishing it. The level of writing and critical thought produced by these local high school students is exemplary.
These young people demonstrate that the public school system in Polson is definitely on the right track.
Congratulations to the teachers and students and to the Polson school board, who despite their differences are volunteering their time in the public arena to help make Polson schools the best they can be.
Virgil Hess
Polson
Educated and healthy
A heartfelt “thank you” to Saint Joseph Medical Center for providing CPR/AED classes to our very grateful staff. Mary Moberly presented current, straightforward and practical “heart saver” protocols.
Thank you also to Brooke Duty for coordinating these events throughout our school district. We appreciate your efforts to keep our community educated and healthy.
Amy Knutson, Millie Nesladek, Darlene Cooper
Polson
Thin ice
This whole political scene is very disturbing to me. First of all, the amount of money it takes to even run for office is keeping many, many very qualified, ethical and honest folks from even considering running for high office. Instead they stay sort of mired in lessor elected positions attempting, against huge odds, to change our political system so that it actually does represent ‘we the people’ and follow the ideas behind our Constitution.
As I watch and listen to the present slate of Republican candidates for president of these United States, and then watch and listen to President Obama, I can’t help but see the tremendous contrasts. It’s like anger and attack versus objectivity and calm resolve.
And you don’t have to be of one party or one persuasion to see this. It is all too obvious. This, to my way of thinking, is not at all healthy for America.
We need Republican candidates who are able to stand on their own two feet and put forth programs and platforms that make sense, are thoughtful, are positively presented, and really speak to what is needed from the executive branch of our government. And this needs to include ideas for how to change the legislative branch of our government as well; term limits for example.
I pity our nation’s choices as a two-party system. It has broken down. It is almost non-functional. It is not working for America. I fear we are skating on very, very thin ice.
Bob McClellan
Polson