Letters: KC readers discuss muzzling teachers, Chiefs fans and Missouri’s awful roads
Need to know
I object to House Bill 1995, currently in the Missouri House of Representatives. It would allow schools to be fined for using instructional materials that violate any parent’s beliefs.
Our public schools need to give students the knowledge necessary to become productive members of our society, and the contents of that knowledge must to be defined by education professionals.
Some of this information might disagree with my beliefs, and if I can sue the school, I will harm my children by keeping them from knowing about information that could be necessary to their goals. (Knowing about something is not the same as believing it to be true.)
My parents were an example: They were creationists and did not believe in the theory of evolution, and although they discussed their beliefs, they did not prevent me from learning about evolution. My career required knowledge about evolution, and I am thankful for my parents’ wisdom.
If this bill passes, I would miss the opportunity to teach my children about evaluating information’s trustworthiness. We are in the midst of fake news and misinformation. I will harm my children if I miss the opportunity to teach them to analyze.
- Connie Stewart, Kansas City
Made me a fan
I apologize for not writing this sooner. I just want to let Kansas City fans know how incredibly well they represent their city. As diehard Bengal fans, my brother and I made the trek from Cincinnati to Kansas City to watch the Jan. 2 game at Arrowhead. There were so many friendly Chiefs fans who greeted us in the parking lot and as we walked through the gates. Throughout the game, they were respectful to us and simultaneously cheered on their team with complete class.
I have been to several NFL stadiums during even the Bengals’ least competitive years, and I was insulted on my way in and out of the stadium because of my orange and black stripes. After the game, KC fans — even in a moment of total disappointment — took time to congratulate us and wish us good luck in the Super Bowl. Every Bengals fan I know who went to the game had a similar experience.
If the city is anything like the folks at Arrowhead, then Kansas City must be one hell of a town. I’m a Chiefs fan now (after the Bengals, of course) forever.
By the way: Man you guys make that stadium loud.
- Jonas Allen, Cincinnati
Road to ruin
Words are inadequate to describe the ongoing backwardness and stupidity of our state’s GOP legislature in serving public good, as with funding for the Missouri Department of Transportation. (Jan. 6, 19A, “MoDOT director is right: Missouri can give raises to state workers”) All our surrounding states have had higher gasoline taxes and better roadwork funding for decades. Missouri has the seventh largest highway system in the nation to maintain, and the country’s second lowest gas tax.
MoDOT has been pathetically underfunded, understaffed and underpaid for decades. Now Missouri’s roads have dilapidated pavement and are bordered by trash and uncut weeds that make us appear like a poor, undeveloped nation. It’s a national embarrassment. Then there is the horrific lack of investment in road upgrades needed to support increased traffic flow around Kansas City as its suburbs expand.
This is all on the GOP — its disgusting fealty to the rich and big business and its willingness to ignore this heinous mess. Missouri’s people need to start demanding better and quit being complacent.
To realize that states such as Mississippi and Alabama pay their teachers higher puts it all in perspective. In the face of all this, giving state workers a decent pay raise would be absolutely foundational.
- Jeff Gernerz, Kansas City
It’s the system
Could it be that Congress is the way it is because people who know better will not run for government office? It seems to me that officials who take money from corporations and people of means should not be part of any discussion or vote involving these entities. It also seems to me that every gun should be licensed and insured, and operated only by the person carrying proof that it is.
Yeah, it’s not going to happen.
- Richard Clyde Lumpkin, Prairie Village