Letters to the editor
September 26, 2008
By Staff
McCormick leaving
In response to my editorial comment on Kit McCormick, Sue Kauffman felt it necessary to suggest what I meant when I said “…many parents are concerned that some teachers have pressed their personal agendas on our students… ”. I found it disappointing that expressing a desire for neutrality in our school could be seen by anyone as polarizing.
Let me try again to make this understandable. We expect our teachers to teach academic subjects and to give our children a well-rounded exposure to many topics, including political positions, religious beliefs and life style issues. We don’t expect teachers to emphasize a one-sided view of our political process. We don’t expect teachers to distort history in order to substantiate their personal opinions about our country. We would be outraged if teachers promoted or denigrated a particular religion. We don’t expect teachers to advocate for any specific set of values, regardless of how popular or controversial that topic may be.
Our youngsters will have a lifetime of exposure to new and changing ideas and values from peers that they are on an equal footing with. Good teachers know not to take advantage of their position day-after-day to further their own causes and good teachers don’t act up in public to bring attention to themselves and their personal issues. Educators are free to live and believe whatever they like, but are honored among us because they accept higher standards of professional and personal behavior than the rest of us.
I appreciate the on-going excellent effort our teachers, the administration and the school board are making to remove bias of all types from our school. Keep up the good work.
Gary Wilson,
North Bend
I wanted to comment on Sue Kauffman’s “fact” that 1 in 10 people are biologically homosexual.
The biological/genetic hypothesis has not even been proven. In fact, in 1991, Dr. Simon LeVay conducted a study on the size of the hypothalamus in gay and straight men. In his conclusion, he found that the hypothalamus was larger in gay men. But this does not prove that being homosexual is genetic. LeVay even stated that he, “Did not prove that homosexuality is genetic, or find a genetic cause for being gay.” It’s even possible that the enlargement of the hypothalamus was caused by the subject’s homosexuality. Not one of them could refute that because they were dead.
Also, in 1993, two psychiatry professors, Dr. William Byne and Dr. Bruce Parsons examined “gay gene” studies on brain structure and on identical twins. They came to the conclusion that, “There is no evidence at present to substantiate a biological theory…sexual orientation may derive from dissatisfaction with the present status of psychosocial explanations…” Meaning, homosexuality can be caused by social and psychological reasons.
I have had the great honor of hearing someone’s story of how he was gay and became straight. He basically explained that he became gay because he was unable to identify to a manly figure as a child (so he identified with his mother) and he was sexually abused by a male. Now he realizes that his gay tendencies were a result of the circumstances of his upbringing (which fall under the categories of social and psychological reasons).
Stephanie King,
North Bend
Dog Park
Has anyone told the folks on the Ridge that there is a dog park in Snoqualmie? If not, I will. It is across from the beautiful Centennial Field in Snoqualmie, just past the grade school.
We live in King County, but our home town is Snoqualmie, and to me this bickering back and forth about a dog park is getting annoying.
There are surely more important things in this valley to consider. Also, how much more can your city budget stand?
Take the dogs to the dog park already available and let them run. There are acres to use. Go for it!
Laurel White,
Snoqualmie
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