Readers respond to a Q&A with the Willard Elementary educators who created the courtesy club to instill better manners among students (2/21/19):
Alicia Marie: OK but seriously, I love the idea of teaching positive social interaction, but they always lose me with the "kids these days" rhetoric. And a lot of adults — yes, even our preciously held teachers — need to learn to respect the autonomy of children. Really wish we'd focus on that once in a while.
Michele Stander-Reimer: When my mom was a kid, they had her class read a "kids these day" article. It was written by Aristotle. Because everyone all over the world is annoyed by "kids these days." My mom always remembered that people who say that have gotten to the stage in their life when they refused to any longer adapt; something way more concerning.
Heidi Penfield: I remember when "please" and "thank you" were some of our baby's first words and he, in turn, taught his three the same thing. Being kind and polite should be with us our whole lives.
CONVERSATIONS AND CONTRIBUTIONS
The animosity expressed by tone of voice, facial expressions and questions about undocumented people (i.e., illegal aliens ) at political meetings amazes me. I attended a Conversations with Cathy meeting in Medical Lake in October 2018 when disdain for the undocumented was expressed by one woman who shouted out "Build that wall" and others appeared to agree.
On Feb. 21, I attended another Conversations with Cathy meeting in Medical Lake. After Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodger's opening remarks, the first rather aggressive question was why the laws already on the books concerning undocumented workers (11-20 million according to the questioner) weren't being enforced.
Later, in response to a question concerning the housing shortage in the area, Rep. McMorris Rodgers relayed a conversation she just held with a general contractor who was involved in the housing development behind the Airway Heights Walmart — he could build more housing, but for lack of electricians, plumbers and other skilled workers.
How interesting that in many parts of the country, that work, along with many other skilled and unskilled jobs, is carried out efficiently and successfully by the "undocumented." Contributions of immigrants to this country, both legal and illegal, are often overlooked by many "documented" Americans.
Nancy Street,
Cheney, Wash.
