Arts-Photography LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ON SCHOLARS BOWL, COP CAMERAS, GLOBAL WARMING ... - Wichita Eagle |
| LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ON SCHOLARS BOWL, COP CAMERAS, GLOBAL WARMING ... - Wichita Eagle Posted: 21 Feb 2010 08:53 PM PST Message from fivefilters.org: If you can, please donate to the full-text RSS service so we can continue developing it. Scholars Bowl takes brains, guts I am uniquely qualified to respond to a letter about Scholars Bowl ("Trivia bowl?" Feb. 18 Letters to the Editor). For several years I have served on the committee that selects questions for regional and state competition under the aegis of the Kansas State High School Activities Association. In addition, I was the meet manager of the 2010 state 5A championship won by Bishop Carroll Catholic High School. Our activity, in the words used to describe the old GE College Bowl, "is based on the quick recall of specific fact" and is not intended to be an accurate indicator of overall academic prowess. It is simply a game in which teams of five students attempt to answer questions posed to them in several categories: world languages (French, German, Spanish); social studies; science and health; mathematics; language arts; fine arts; and year in review. In order to be successful, students must be smart, quick and fearless. All eight teams that competed at Newton fit that description. Addressing the letter writer's specific objection: The Elton John item was atypical. Though the vast majority of questions in the fine arts category deal with major composers, artists, ballet, opera, architecture, etc., we have in recent years deliberately sought to expand the category to include a variety of musical and visual forms, including Broadway musicals, folk art, popular music, crafts, jazz, studio arts, photography and others. It happens that the item in question was the sole popular music question posed during the entire competition. Be assured that the team from Bishop Carroll is a worthy champion composed of young men and women who make one proud to be involved in an activity such as Scholars Bowl. They and their coach, Mark Berger, set a high standard to which the rest of us aspire. MICHAEL KELTING Scholars Bowl coach Newton High School Newton Cameras helpful Regarding "All police cars will have cameras if city gets grant" (Feb. 11 Eagle): I like the idea of the cameras. The cameras can settle a lot of disputes between officers and people. These cameras also can provide evidence in the courtroom. You can't always rely on what people say, so it would be helpful to have a trustworthy source of evidence. JULIA SEIBEL Kechi Grow up Last week on KSN, Channel 3, in his "Steckline Report," Larry Steckline argued that global warming is not occurring because of the recent snowstorms and cold snaps. He is an embarrassment to Wichita and all of Kansas. He's like a baby who believes that the only thing happening is what just happened. CRAIG YOUNG Wichita Raise income tax The good people of Kansas deserve better than they are receiving from Gov. Mark Parkinson and the Legislature. The future of Kansas is our children. The Legislature has been engaged in petitfoggery by trying to convince Kansans that the school districts are bad because they are suing for court-ordered funding. The Legislature created much of the budget crisis with stupid tax cuts and preferences. Parkinson needs to be a leader and tell the Legislature to stop the complaining and fund our schools. How should the state fund the budget? Rescind tax cuts, abatements and preferences given in the past three years. Then raise the state income tax across the board 1, 2, 3 percent — whatever it takes to balance the budget and fund our schools. Parkinson's comments that the Legislature will not sign a state income-tax increase will not serve (Feb. 1 WE Blog excerpts). The income tax is progressive and will equally affect all citizens. If the Legislature will not pass the increase, the people of Kansas need to know why. Parkinson has chosen to be a lame-duck governor. He should stop being a chicken. He should lead the Legislature and the people of Kansas. He should protect our children, and make the Legislature do the right thing. RANDALL H. ELAM Wichita Use natural gas The news today is full of information about making new strides in the development of biomass and ethanol for vehicle fuel. These materials are losers. They are polluting and low in energy, and they raise the cost of food. The powers that be need to get their heads out of the sand and make natural gas our main vehicle fuel. National gas is clean-burning, cheap and plentiful, and will lower our need for foreign oil. MARVIN E. FRANKAMP Wichita Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction. |
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