After the dialogue, what’s next step?
A critical dialogue began Feb. 27th when Dr. Willard Daggett spoke to our community on “Preparing students for our changing world.” When plants close, we understand that workers have to seek skills that fit the new and changing reality. We want our schools to have up-to-date technology, but … we want classroom instruction to be the same as when we were students. I’m as guilty as anyone.
The statistics and trends that Dr. Daggett discussed were eye opening: specifics on the impact of the development of China and India; current and upcoming changes in how we exchange information; the expectation that what happened in the U.S. manufacturing sector will happen in the information and service sectors; and the expectation that major corporations will be moving their research and corporate headquarters overseas. For some corporations, this has begun. Scary.
We want our nation to be strong. More immediately, we want Rowan County to be strong. Rowan Partners for Education is hosting a follow-up workshop on Thursday, from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Salisbury Civic Center, open to the public. I encourage anyone interested in our county’s future to attend. The workshop will move the dialogue to what we are doing and can do in our school system to prepare our students, as appropriate for our new and changing reality. If I can challenge my comfort zone, you can, too.
ó Elaine Hewitt
Cleveland
Criticism off target
I had promised myself to never send a letter to the Post again after I defended Sen. John Kerry against lies and ugly rumors. But after reading the April 4 letter from Kathleen Hodl, I couldn’t stop myself.
First, this is a kind and gentle place to live (I’m also a newcomer), and I happen to know the person labeled as “loser of a bet.” Obviously, she did not listen to him. It was quite clear before the annexation meeting of March 27 that no elected officials would be present at that particular meeting. There will be opportunities to voice opinions later. The individual who spoke was doing his job ó an outstanding job ó and he believes in what he says. To label him otherwise is ignorant.
I am proud to be his friend, and I resent the remarks as written by Ms. Hodl.
ó Joe Lancione
Salisbury
Obama supporters
Wow, how exciting! Rowan County has really stepped it up in support of Barack Obama, and I am thrilled to be a part of it. Rowan for Obama had 30 volunteers at our first meeting, and now we’re over 100 strong. We have a staging location, and we’re working hard to register voters in Salisbury and Rowan County. Although I’ve always voted, I’ve never felt that I was part of the election process, until now. Barack Obama has given people hope; people have been going to the polls in record numbers thus far, and I know North Carolina will continue that trend. Finally, we have a voice!
As a mother of three young boys, early childhood education is an important issue for me. Barack Obama launched a program in Chicago called Preschool for All. Obama believes there is no reason why we can’t and shouldn’t replicate this all across America, and I completely agree.
ó Claryce Slaughter
Salisbury
She spoke, listened
I would like to publicly express my sadness on the death of Katherine Osborne. I can truly call her friend. I first met Mrs. Osborne as a member of the Bridgebuilders. We met primarily at Catawba College. This was a group of African-Americans and whites getting together to talk about race. It was very important to her that we, as a people, get together and share our feelings, thoughts and prayers.
I remember our last meeting at her home where she had prepared dinner. She had a little card on her refrigerator, and it said, “Lord, help me to hang in there”. I admired it, and she insisted that I take it. Today, it is still on my refrigerator. We had seen each other off and on, and she wanted me to try and pull this group back together. She would say, “I am still waiting.”
I would like to say that Mrs. Osborne will be missed in this community. I think that the words of the Desiderata best describe the Mrs. Osborne that I knew;
“… Speak your truth quietly and clearly, listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant, for they, too, have their story. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; the universe is unfolding as it should…”
My thanks, to her family for sharing her with us.
ó DeeDee Wright
Salisbury