OpinionOctober 13, 1999
SPEAKOUT
I WAS really glad to see the caller's question about the rules at Blanchard, particularly regarding the lunch rules about no talking. My children went to Clippard and the same rules were in effect there. The children were not allowed to talk at all during lunch. ...
Try eating and not talking during lunch
I WAS really glad to see the caller's question about the rules at Blanchard, particularly regarding the lunch rules about no talking. My children went to Clippard and the same rules were in effect there. The children were not allowed to talk at all during lunch. If they did, they were punished. In fact, when I went to eat lunch with them on Parents Day, the parents sat there and didn't talk. These children sit in class all day long without talking. Their only breaks are lunch, and if they have a nice, easy-going gym teacher, at gym. That's not how most people live. We all talk and eat during a meal. It's a time to relax and unwind. Because of redistricting, my child now goes to Schrader where they are allowed to talk quietly all except for five minutes of the lunchtime. My daughter still gets her lunch eaten. Two years ago when I asked the principal at Clippard why the kids couldn't talk during lunch, he said, if they talk, they won't eat their lunch. I said that after a couple of days they'll get the idea that eating is important and they'll get hungry if they don't eat. They'll learn the natural consequences of their actions. He said the people supervising the lunchroom don't like all the noise. So I think that's the real reason. It's what's convenient for the adults, not what's best for the children. I visited Schrader's lunchroom. The kids are talking quietly while they eat. The kids finished their meals with five minutes of quiet time. They weren't loud, and the environment is wonderful. It's friendly, the kids are polite, and the noise doesn't get out of hand. I think the principals of Blanchard and Clippard need to spend every day at lunch out with friends but not allowed to talk and see how they feel. I think they should also ask every parent of every child there to do the same thing. Go to lunch with your friends and sit there for 20 minutes and not talk at all. It makes no sense to me, and I think this policy needs to change. Parents, speak up.
Eating is a social occasion
I DON'T think it's a good lesson to have children eat in absolute silence. Eating is a very social occasion, and I don't think any adult in town eats silently when they have meals with other people.
At least Jesse tells the truth
I DON'T agree with everything Jesse Ventura says, but I give the guy credit for saying what he believes rather than what's popular. Contrast Jesse with Bill Clinton. Whenever Clinton campaigns, he supports whatever's popular. Once elected, he governs otherwise. Remember the middle-class tax cut he promised in 1992? Once elected, he pushed through the largest tax increase in history. Remember how he promised to change welfare as we know it? But once elected, did nothing to change welfare until the Republicans took control of Congress and forced him to. Remember the famous phrase, "I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky"? I guess what I'm trying to say is that Jesse Ventura, like him or not, at least tells the truth.
Invest in free college educations
EDUCATION IS a one-way ticket away from poverty. That is the great reason for the government to subsidize a free college education to all American students who qualify for college. There is no better place to invest America's wealth than in its young people, who are to carry the torch for the future of America. Free college education should be an unalienable right priority.
It's a matter of personal freedom
IN RESPONSE to the call regarding Blanchard school policies, my opinion is that our children are not factory workers in Japan to be given regimented exercise in place of their personal freedom. Maturity cannot be forced. It can only be acquired with age. At the stage of development these children have reached, they must be allowed to take breaks that include the right to speak to their friends and participate in activities of their choice. Who among us would be happy if our employers monitored our lunch hours and refused to allow us to speak to our coworkers? Personal freedom is guaranteed by our constitution, but it seems to have no meaning in the minds of grade-school principals in this area who would prefer to see them all Ritalin-ized little zombies. It's unfortunate but true that noisy children are generally happy ones. Understandably, they must be quiet in class. But for them to be able to sit still and be quiet, they must be allowed the freedom to get their ya-yas out in non-study situations. I hope someone will rethink this regimentation at the schools.
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Eating silently goes too far
IN REGARD to the comment on Blanchard school, I started first grade in 1939, and it was rough going to school back then. You were quiet in class, you followed orders to the letter or you got your rear paddled. All this made for a good school and a good education. But never, and I mean never, did we have to quit talking while we ate our lunch. We had two recesses and gym. One thing I know: Mini-gym and gym are not recesses by any stretch of the imagination.
Active students fill yearbook pages
I'D LIKE to voice a response to the caller who said how Oran school's yearbook does not represent all students equally. As a yearbook adviser myself, I can tell you that when a student is active in sports and clubs and other organizations, that child will, for obvious reasons, appear more times than a student who is not active. Especially in a small school such as Oran. This only stands to reason. I personally know that efforts were made in Oran to include students in snapshots throughout the book who are not very active. Something to remember, though, is that most of the pages in the yearbook are sports clubs and activities, and only those who participate in them will appear. The bottom line is, if you or your child thinks they don't appear often enough in the yearbook, maybe they need to become more active in organizations, sports and activities.
School officials are very fair
TO THE person who called in about Dr. Kohlfeld not giving recesses. They do have supervised play and free play every day. You really need to get your facts straight. Dr. Kohlfeld tries to see that all children learn in a safe environment that is conducive to learning. She is very fair, and children know the rules and learn to make good choices. Go visit the school. I have. And Dr. Kohlfeld and the teachers are doing a wonderful job.
Principal upholds good standards
I WOULD like to reply the negative comments made about Dr. Kohlfeld of Blanchard Elementary. The person doing the complaining needs to pay more attention to all the wonderful things that Dr. Kohlfeld is accomplishing. She gives of herself tirelessly, and it's all for the students. She cares very deeply for them. Following instructions is a necessary skill. I support and respect Dr. Kohlfeld's high regard for social standards. Keep up the great work.
Look like a phone monopoly
AT&T AND Bell Telephone were made to split up years ago because it was called a monopoly. So what do you call the MCI and Sprint merger? We have laws and regulations to prevent all these huge monopolies that are taking place, so let's see some action.
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