The Independent-News, Volume 115, Number 45, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 5 April 1990 — Page 4

— THE INDEPENDENT NEWS - APRIL 5, IWO

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EDITORIALS |

EVERYBODY COUNTS The 1990 Census is in full swing, and everybody counts. Everybody needs to count, anyway, according to census personnel and Indiana officials. In 1980, a Census undercount cost Indiana a congressional seat and at least sls million in governmental funds. Everyone working on the census is hoping and anticipating that an undercount won’t happen again. An undercount is an under-renumeration of the population, or the number of people not counted, in a decennial census. Because of the undercount of approximately 100,000 Hoosiers in 1980 we lost a congressionak seat, which we’ll have no chance of recovering in this census count. The federal funds that we lost ten years ago have negatively affected programs and planning in road construction, schools and social services. Everyone has been hard-hit by these cuts. The people who most need the services have often had to go without them. Trying to meet all the needs, with a lack of funds, means raising state taxes — and this affects every Hoosier. A large undercount in the 1990 census would again mean a substantial financial loss to the state of Indiana. Every resident not counted means a loss of $175 per year in funding. If a family of four does not respond to the 1990 census, our Hoosier state will lost $7,000 from the government in the next ten years. A state Complete Census Count Committee has been created to promote the census by creating a greater awareness of the need for every Hoosier to be counted. In a new local review program, local officials review housing unit counts in their areas. . , Regardless of what you may hear in general conversation, all information is slricktly confidential. This cannot be used by other departments from the IRS right on down. More than a half million adult Hoosiers who register below the fifth grade reading level might need more than a few extra minutes to complete their form. For this reason the Indiana Complete Census Count Committee is prepared. They are offering a free telephone help line, walk-in help centers and follow-up visits. If you or anyone you know needs help with your census form, you can call the Census Help Line at 1-800-999-1990.

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FELLOW RESIDENTS Am I missing something? 1 am a local resident and I am aware we have a community food pantry which sometimes runs out of supplies for our local needy people. And yet. many of our merchants have cans out to collect money for a man who has 30-plus years of experience in his field, a college degree plus a masters, and owns a business here in town which is flourishing. And now. there's to be a bake sale for his benefit. Has the definition of needy changed or is our population so well off that a person with the above qualifications is now considered needy? Something seems amiss. The cupboards are bare. . . A concerned and confused resident VINDICTIVE 1 cannot imagine anyone so vindictive over a slight to their daughter that she (he) can gloat over a man losing his job. 1 can remember many hurts and slights mx handicapped son received, but we never thought the teacher should be fired. One instance that comes to mind was Barrs was so proud because he was asked to demonstrate a play in basketball by his fifth grade teacher. Self consciously he did as told, then his teacher said to the rest of the boys, "See. Barn tries when he can't possibly do it and you guys, who are okay, don't even try. My younger son was asked along with his class, when the seventh grade teacher asked how many of their fathers were ever in the senice. whether they would be dumb enough to go if called. Bruce was devastated because he was proud of his father's service in World War 11. Yet we did not demand that teacher's termination, but simply explained his teacher's terrible fear of being called to

service and being sent to Vietnam. I probably hurt feelings too as a teacher although! 1 tried not to. Maybe I did one time when a pupil asked if I had a headache and I replied. "Yes. 17 of them right now." It was said in humor but I might never know if one child and her parents had no sense of humor. So took it as a personal affront. The hurts come with growing, no child is exempt. We parents job is to explain, but certainly not to teach the child to get even. The hurt lingers so much longer when the parent helps fester it. You must explain people often say thoughtless things. That is the only way your child grows from a sensititive child into a compassionate adult. Leila Bare SUPPORT FOR THE KIDS I am writing this letter in regards to the outpouring of support for Richard Kickbush, and in response to Mrs. Carol Aitken’s "letter to the editor" two weeks ago. First of all. 1 have nothing against either of these people, but I do have a five year old child, who will be entering school this fall, and I have to ask myself. "How comfortable am 1 with W.E.S.?’’ Frankly at this point in time — not very. I feel the school board made a very difficult decision —1 don't think it was pre determined — but it was one that had to be made and it should be supported. Superintendent Harvey. Mrs. Lightfoot and the school board probably didn't like making this decision anymore than a lot of Walkerton residents liked hearing about it. but it seems that in all these showings of support and respect — no one mentions the people who need it more than anyone — the children. Children go to school for an academic, education, so they may better themselves, but since school is also mental and emotional how

can a child feel better about him or her self, or that they can accomplish anything in life when a teacher steps on their pride or strikes them physically without due process. There arc channels to go through in a school system when confronting a corporal punishment situation and it seems W.E.S. has forgotten that little bit of information. This is a direct written quote from Mrs. Aitken's letter. Read it carefully. "I feel many discipline actions of the type Mr. Kickbush undertook probably have gone on. on a daily basis, unnoticed or covered up until this time. Now he is the one who is paying after 34 years of dedication to a teaching profession." Gone unnoticed or been covered up? That's right, take heed, parents. Just how many times has that type of punishment been covered up? I do agree with disciplining children, but I am adamant in my belief that it be done in the principal's office, with the principal witnessing, and the parent or guardian being notified before such action is taken. In one of the "letters to the editor" a few weeks ago. someone wrote, everyone loses control once in a while. Teachers are not paid to lose control, and if they feel a loss of control approaching they should remove themselves from the situation until it passes, and if it becomes chronic, they should be removed permanently. Stop and think about it. If someone else had done this; say a sitter or day care worker, how long would that person be on the job. You as a parent would not allow 1 that treatment of your child to go on. The fact that teachers are professionals. with some training in handling children, should be enough to warrant trust between parents and school, but lately it doesn't seem that way. Teaching is one of the few professions that once the teachers receives their license, (hey do not have to have it renewed, or be educated further, unless they so desire. How can we entrust our kids, year after year, with teachers who don't go back for more education, who may be facing professional burnout and taking their frustrations out on our. to coin a phrase, most precious resource? 1 feel there should be higher standards for the teachers to follow. License renewal every other year and psychological evaluations every two to three years are just two measures that might help the teaching dilemma. Our children have to be educated and they need the best educators possible if their future is to be better and brighter than ours. Mrs. Dena Griffin IN RESPONSE TO THE KICKER CAMPAIGN $240.00 for the Kicker Can Campaign, huh? What happended to the strong 900 signatures on those petitions? That comes out to approximately 27.5 cents per person. I'll bet we could raise more than that to keep him out. but the onlypeople we could pay. would be the school board and since they seem to be the only ones left in this town with any decency and integrity — they wouldn’t accept it. On second thought, maybe we should all donate to the "can" to get it into a higher court. There are two sides to every story and when the 'other' side is heard, maybe people won’t be so quick to form such bias opinions. W.E.S. Parent SUPPORT KICKBUSH 1 am writing this letter to the editor in support of Mr. Kickbush. First of all I’d like to respond to the letter from the unnamed parent. Could it be that you're jealous of Mr. Kickbush getting all of the attention? Mavbe these people

wanted to support Kickbush from the start, and how do you know that he's playing upon other people's feelings? Maybe he chose to have the hearing open so people could see and hear for themselves what was going on. and not rely on vicious rumors that seem to run wild in our communities. How can you infer that he thought he was above the rules of his job by not resigning? Maybe he felt he had a good chance of keeping his job and wanted to take the chance. So, whyshould we infer everything? Why don’t we address the subjects we do know about? I've "worked" with Mr. Kickbush my four years in high school on the tennis courts, in the classrooms. and in other extra-cirricular activities such as Fellowship of Christian Athletes, which he was in charge of. He had to discipline the students in every activity, but I never saw him raise his hand once to any student. I think that many people in our small communities feel the same way I do towards Mr. Kickbush, especially my former classmates who were in contact with him in one way or another during high school. 1 feel that he was treated unfairly by the school board. They are representatives of the people of the townships and obviously they did not do an appropriate job because many people are still supporting Mr. Kickbush. The students of the schools at which he taught arc even supporting him. That shows that they were affected by Mr. Kickbush in a positive manner, and would like to see him returned to his position. Unlike the parent who was not able to sign their name. I will because I'm proud to say I support Mr. Kickbush. Marc Adkins JGHS Graduate

CREATION OF HUMAN ANIMALS! What has been lost in our community because you refuse to accept the discipline that has been dealt to you? You have, through your actions, placed a very heavy burden upon Mr. Harvey, our superintendent. Mrs. Lightfoot, our principal, and the entire school board of trustees to perform their duties in our school system. Happy Ads - "Vote Out The School Board." I see no happiness in that remark and that sort of ad should never have been placed. You have also put the teachers of JGSC in the difficult position of whether or not to support you. Student rebellion, leaving the classroom to go outside to aimlessly wander about. What discipline should be given to these students for the disruption of their classrooms? Who has been forced to administer this discipline? Where there previously had been friendship amongst the community, people have become enemies. Vandalism of automobile windows, phone calls to parents threatening their children, parents, withdrawing their children from the school system. I implore you to stop this parade before a human tragedy occurs. Mr. Kickbush, you were once on top of the mountain but you have allowed yourself to fall to the foothills. At the foothills, you must have met a rattle snake because you have spewed venom on your employers. (See last

weeks paper) I urge you to accept the discipline that has been handed to you just as you expected the children in your classroom to accept the discipline you delivered. Return to your church and ask for forgiveness; pray for divine guidance. Seek the only one that truly can help you. Need 1 tell you his name? A Very Sad Grandparent and Lifelong Resident w ho has Grandchildren in the John Glenn School System Lion* usually spend 20 hour* a day sleeping or resting.

On July 26, 1969, Sharon Adams, a 39-year-old Californian, became the first woman ever to sail alone across the Pacific Ocean. She covered the 5,618-mile distance from Yoko hama, Japan, to San Diego harbor in het 31-foot ketch, in 74 days, 17 hours, 15 minutes ■'•/O I SMC Offers Five Tips For Stranded Motorists When you’re stranded on the road, these guidelines recommended by the Texas Highway Patrol and Shell Motorist Club (SMC) can help get you safely home: ■ I SMC says a white handkerchief tied to your car's antenna or door will signify you need assistance. e Park your car on the right shoulder far away from traffic. Avoid stopping in a traffic lane if at all possible. e Display distress signals. Attach a white handkerchief or cloth to the antenna or door handle. If it’s safe, raise your car’s hood to signify that you need assistance e Portable flashers, such as flares or illuminated warning triangles, also may be placed in front or behind your car to warn oncoming traffic. e Stay inside your car until assistance arrives e Join an automobile club. That

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