Forgotten statistics about gay studentsRegarding the Rowan-Salisbury school superintendent’s Oct. 12 article addressing the growing problem of bullying in our schools, the superintendent seems to have omitted some statistics.
According to a study by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, gay and lesbian youth are two to three times more likely to commit suicide than other bullied youths. Eighty-six percent of gay and lesbian students reported being verbally harassed, 44 percent being physically harassed and 22 percent being physically assaulted at school. Of those students reporting physical assault, about 40 percent will attempt suicide. Seventy-four percent of gay and lesbian students report hearing derogatory remarks from fellow students, and 53 percent report hearing homophobic comments by school staff, but 72 percent fear making a report to school administrators or faculty. Thirty-two percent of gay and lesbian students missed a class, and 33 percent missed a day of school because of fear of being bullied. Statistics regarding school staff reveal that 80 percent of prospective teachers report negative attitudes and two-thirds of guidance counselors harbor negative attitudes toward gay and lesbian students.
To wit, in its 2007 National School Climate Survey the Ad Council reported that students in schools with a Gay-Straight Alliance reported hearing fewer homophobic remarks, experienced less harassment and assault and were more likely to report incidents of harassment and assault. They were less likely to feel unsafe, less likely to miss school because of safety concerns and reported a greater sense of belonging to their school community.
I hope the BOE will consider, like our neighbors in Davie County, allowing these frequently targeted students and their straight peers to have their GSA when it gets down to the serious business of trying to foster good relationships between all of our students.
ó Mike Clawson
Salisbury
Clawson is North Carolina coordinator for PFLAG, Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays.
Questions remain about field tripsRegarding the Exceptional Children Program’s field trips:
My son is an EC student in the Rowan-Salisbury School System. The Oct. 17 letter from Crystal Vail, EC director, doesn’t answer my questions. My son does not participate in Special Olympics because he physically can’t. He also cannot go to the “Pumpkin Patch” trip because of his wheelchair; they are unable to get around.
Tell me: What trips can he take?
Saving Grace Farm met all the criteria cited by Dr. Vail, yet it was still canceled. My son was learning numbers and letters while working on his trunk control and attention span (one of his IEP goals). Saving Grace was the only place my son got to go outside the classroom to work on his goals.
I was also able to see the delight in his face when he was “walking” and did the tasks at hand. As a mother, I want what’s best for my child and any other child that might fall into this category. Taking away Saving Grace Farm was not one of them.
ó Wendy Burnette
Salisbury
Palin no model for other mothersSarah Palin has been touted as a role model for women. I am all for women in positions of leadership but only if they are capable and knowledgeable. I don’t believe Palin has exhibited either characteristic to the point that she would be qualified to run this country.
As a new mother, I find it discouraging and sad that Palin abdicated responsibility for her children and family to seek personal fame and glory. Palin has been commended for having a “special needs” baby, but she is not responsible for that child’s day-to-day care. I understand the children are with their father and other family members, but that does not take the place of the nurturing love of a mother. If McCain and Palin are elected, she will be two countries away from her children. I believe a woman’s first priority is to the children she elected to bring into this world. Palin has turned her back on those closest to her ó how can she be trusted to run this country?
ó Brenda Stone
Salisbury
Some voters need a steadying handMy parents and I went to the old courthouse today at noon for early voting.
The line wasn’t long, and we were soon leaving the building. When we reached the bottom of the steps, a man who was stepping from the street onto the sidewalk fell and cut a gash above his right eye. Fortunately, he was with his wife, and she was able to take him to seek medical treatment. A minute later, an elderly man asked my father to help him up the steps because he couldn’t see the railing. My father helped him, and then we wondered if any good Samaritan would be there to help him back down.
If you have a relative or friend who may need extra help getting up and down stairs, please make sure someone is with them if they are planning to vote at the old courthouse or advise them to go to a location less difficult to get in and out of (like the public library).
You may save someone a trip to the hospital.
ó Katie Zino
Salisbury
Real Americans don’t steal signsTo the person who stole an Obama sign from my yard on N.C. 52 at Wilcoy Road, I can only guess what went through your twisted mind, but you don’t know what a real American is. By the way, your own actions have made you into a common thief. Way to go.
ó Jean Puckett
Rockwell
Shame on Post for ‘dart’ about Joe
In your Oct. 18 opinion column, you gave a “dart” to “Joe the Plumber.” You listed things from his background that you apparently believe disqualify him from asking a simple question of Senator Obama. Clearly, one way to prevent the public from asking questions of their candidates is to expose the questioner to a background investigation. Is that what you want?
The fact is, Joe was not subjected to scrutiny from the media (and yourselves) because of his question. It is because of Obama’s answer that Joe must be destroyed. Obama said that he did not want to “punish” Joe for his success. But by giving tax money to “help those behind you,” that is exactly the result. And the comment “… spread the wealth … ” tells us volumes about Obama’s intent to use taxes to redistribute wealth.
Your attempt to deflect attention from Obama’s answer is where the dart should go. The public has had few answers from this presidential candidate. He has a short, lackluster and far-left record in the U.S. Senate and the Illinois legislature.
What little can be gleaned from his legislative record and activities prior to public office raises many questions.
For you editors, who write under the banner “The truth shall set you free,” to go after the questioner instead of seeking answers from the candidate, shame.
ó Mike Garcia
Salisbury
Falcon fans proud of ‘boring’ players
In the Oct. 17 Post, there was an article about the West Rowan Falcons.
In the article, sports editor Ronnie Gallagher stated that there was no “juicy stuff” you could throw at our guys. Nobody getting in trouble, so to speak. Well, here I go.
Does anybody realize how many prayers go out for these “good ol’ country boys” from their parents? It takes hard work to raise such fellows as we have on this team! If you can call that “boring,” then maybe you should re-evaluate your perspective on what makes a good person. This was apparently the only thing they could pin on our guys; OK, we’ll take that. However, if some people are that angry over our success, they can just suck it up and get over it.
By the way, our coaches are pretty awesome, too. Coach Scott Young, thank you so much for your supportive comeback to this ridiculous appraisal of our team’s value!
Go for it, Falcons, and God bless!
ó Penny Moore
Salisbury
What will happen to the veterans?My husband and I went to a meeting the other day at the Holiday Inn. We thought it was going to a session where veterans could voice their opinions about changes at the VA Medical Center in Salisbury. Instead, it turned out to be a Democratic political event. We were very disappointed.
The hospital’s changes are leaving our veterans hanging out to dry. Yes, we understand, there is a great need for longterm care and mental health, but don’t cut out the other services.
For some veterans, including my husband, I’m sure that is their only source of health care. We are appalled at what they are doing.
It sounds like a lot of waste going on ó state of the art surgical units, primary-care clinics and more, gone. And now veterans have to fend for themselves?
We need a forum to voice our opinions that these changes are unacceptable.
Our men and women in uniform, past and present, should not be treated this way and also shouldn’t have to travel to get health care when we have a facility right here.
We have met people who drove from Atlanta, Virginia and Tennessee (just to name a few states) to come to our hospital for care.
My husband received a letter that reminded of his appointment in November, and in the same envelope was a notice of an appointment cancellation. It wasn’t rescheduled elsewhere, just cancelled.
We’re sure a lot of other vets are in limbo, too.
This is how our veterans who risked and sacrificed lives and limbs and more are treated. Whatever happened to decency and compassion for our veterans ó and health care?
ó Deborah Post
Salisbury
EndorsementsLetters endorsing local candidates in the Nov. 4 election must be received in the Salisbury Post newsroom by 5 p.m., Oct. 27. Please limit endorsements to 150 words.