Opinion

KASB gives attaboys for declining student outcomes

GUEST COLUMN, Dave Trabert, The Sentinel

If Benjamin Franklin were alive today, he might say there are three things you can count on – death, taxes, and the Kansas Association of School Boards putting a positive spin on declining student outcomes.

A March 26 column by KASB’s Mark Tallman touts state assessment results at USD 489 Hays as exceeding projections, calling them “some of the highest student success results in the state when considering its enrollment and student demographics. Based on the actual data, that’s like saying a baseball team’s batting average on cloudy days for left-handed hitters is a little better than expected. The characterization is meaningless, which is how KASB and many education officials want it. No specific outcome data, just hard-spun generalizations.

All in one accord

MY PERSPECTIVE, Gary Damron

AUTHOR’S NOTE — We are thankful that this newspaper has collaborated with us since 2007 to run weekly articles. The following is adapted from one first printed May 2, 2018.

For years I was an active member of an inter-racial, ecumenical prayer group, and several times I spoke at community gatherings made up of people from several different denominations or ethnic makeups. We've also attended or conducted funerals and have been impressed at how folks travel hundreds of miles to pay tribute and come together for support. At each place, there are differences in worship styles, but agreement in the essentials.

As Jesus faced his arrest, trial, and death on the cross, it seems our Lord’s main concern was that there would be unity in his Church.

Spring cold

THE POSTSCRIPT, Carrie Classon

The fact is, I am spoiled.

I never get sick. I’ve never spent a night in a hospital since I was born (and then, my mother stayed with me). I’ve never broken a bone. I’ve never had a major operation. I am absurdly healthy, and I can take no credit for any of this. So, naturally, when I get sick, I am insufferable.

It always starts in the same way. I get a sore throat. First, I ignore it. I have found this is the best way to deal with imminent disasters. When I used to drive old cars, I would turn up the radio when I heard an ominous noise. Loud music and deliberate ignorance can take you for many miles.

But then my throat gets worse. I feel my glands. They are a little swollen.

Trump facing political charges, and nobody is jumping ship

L&T Publisher Earl Watt

Donald Trump will be facing criminal charges in New York, and nobody seems to care.

That says a lot about what is actually happening, who is doing the prosecuting, and why it means very little to anyone.

Over the weekend, former White House Press Secretary for Bill Clinton and now ABC News propagandist George Stephanoupolos asked New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu about his support for Trump even though Trump is facing criminal charges in New York.

Sununu pointed out that 51 percent of America is supporting Trump, and that he is one of them.

See that guy? You’re now paying his student loan

GUEST COLUMN, Dane Hicks, Kansas Informer (kaninfo.com)

If you happen to be in a grocery store or gas station in Kansas the next few days, get a good look at the person at the checkout ahead of you. You – and probably your yet-to-be born grandkids – may be paying off that person’s federal student loan.

President Biden again mocked a U.S. Supreme Court ruling yesterday and approved loan forgiveness for another 2,550 student loan borrowers in Kansas, bringing the total now to more than 26,000 Kansans who’ve been exempted from repaying the money they borrowed for their college educations. Biden’s actions nationwide yesterday sent the loans of another 277,000 borrowers –$7.4 billion – to the heaping pile of U.S. national debt.