KUDOS FOR THE COLUMNIST
Bravo!! This article (Zach Hagadone's "From Boors to Sh--holers," 2/1/18) should be mandatory reading for all U.S. citizens smugly residing within the borders of these United States. The only suggestion I would offer would be the article should have been printed in bold print!
Heidi Penfield
Colbert, Wash.
HELP THE CHILDREN
Imagine a community that cared about all its children, from every home and family background — cared so much that they rallied together to support the education, enrichment, and social, developmental, emotional, cognitive, and physical well-being of all those children. Imagine a community that embodied the values of the true American spirit — that supported the opportunity for each young citizen to work towards the goal of a positive, vibrant, intentional life; liberty to learn more and explore new ideas and pursue big goals; and possibilities to pursue happiness for themselves, their families, their Spokane community, and the Common Good. Let's be that type of community, Spokane.
Vote "Yes for Kids" on your ballot for the 2018 levy, which replaces the expiring 2015 levy at a lower tax rate. It's not a new tax. This levy will help enrich basic education programs and activities that our state does not fund. Science, technology, music, art, school librarians and counselors, school-based nurses and behavior specialists, special education programs, and more — these will all continue to be funded with your support of this levy. As the mom of two elementary children in Spokane, thank you for voting Yes.
Amy McCaffree
Spokane, Wash.
Readers respond to our story about the shortage of Idaho teachers needed for the growing number of students who don't speak English as their first language ("Idaho Schools Are Struggling to Keep Up with an Increase in English-language Learners," 2/1/18):
Christopher LaSota: Don't doubt for one second that making English the official language of the USA is on the agenda of those to whom Trump listens. Don't be surprised if this becomes one of the issues engineered for use in the 2018 mid-term elections. I fully expect xenophobia to be rolled out again, this time as a false dilemma about "patriotism."
Steve Berde: No problem. They'll eliminate the position soon. ♦
