Vote no on transparency bill
Your Feb. 26, issue’s front page had an article about Sabetha students asking “does Kansas have a state fruit?” This was such a “teachable moment,” and Sabetha teacher Jobi Wertenberger should be commended for capitalizing on using this moment to reach and engage all students.
He led students to research. He invited their state representative, Randy Garber, to visit the class and explain the legislative process for naming a state fruit. Students wrote persuasive essays to get “votes for their fruit” and then an election was held. This is teaching government (how to pass a law), research, language arts, botany (what grows well in Kansas soil) and civics all in the moment with a student-led question was asked in February.
“We’ve had kids who have maybe struggled with other things in class, but they’ve been able to latch onto this,” Wertenberger said. “They’ve totally bought into this idea, and that’s what you love to see as a teacher.”
In the meantime, legislators have proposed HB 2662 and SB 393 which, had they been in effect, none of this could have happened because Mr. Wertenberger would have had to, in the summer of 2021, downloaded ALL teaching materials for parent transparency. The teacher could not have “gone off-script” when this teaching moment happened. The students would have lost out on this great project!
On March 7, HB 2662 was referred to the Appropriations Committee.
I encourage all Kansans to let their senators and representatives know this is not a good bill, and to vote NO when/if it reaches debate on the floor.
If this had passed before February, Mr. Wertenberger would have had to tell his class, “That is a good question, and next summer I will transparently put resources online and tell parents I will be teaching this – but it has to wait until parents are notified that we are going to talk about a state fruit.”
Chris Huntsman, Topeka
Gerrymandering gives unfair advantage
The Kansas Supreme Court rejected Attorney General Schmidt’s request to dismiss three lawsuits challenging the Congressional redistricting map, narrowly passed by the Kansas Legislature. The map is a blatant example of gerrymandering, meant to dilute Democrat and minority votes.
The court has not ruled whether the map is unconstitutional, but I predict that is next. The article “Kansas high court rejects AG request” in the Capital-Journal March 4 states, “Schmidt, who is a front runner in the Governor’s race, had also asked the high court to rule that political gerrymandering is permitted under the Kansas constitution.” To permit one party to manipulate boundaries to give them an unfair advantage in elections undermines the principles of democracy.
Schmidt wants to be a governor. Remember the above quote when you vote in November. We must have fair elections in Kansas.
Scott Henson, Topeka
Power over food is at the root of war in Ukraine
Much has been said about the demonstrated leadership of Ukrainian President Volodoymyr Zelenskyy, a man who didn’t want a ride, just more ammunition. President Zelenskyy has earned his place among the icons of our country and several others from around the world who put their country before self.
Make no mistake, this conflict in Ukraine is about power, not necessarily oil or the encroachment of NATO upon Russia’s borders. It is about food.
Ukraine’s wealth comes from their export of food, particularly grains. Ukraine is the number one exporter of sunflower oil, contributing to half of the world market. They are the number two exporter of barley, number three exporter of wheat and rapeseed (used in industry because of its resistance to heat) and the number four exporter of corn.
Add these numbers to Russia’s control of the grain export market and Russia’s number one spot in wheat export is strengthened to control 25% of world markets. They would also become the number three exporter of corn a solid number two exporter of Barley and major control of the oil seed markets. Remember, these commodities not only feed the human population but are the feed for our animals, and the oils are used for everything from cooking to trash bags to hydraulics.
We are all part of the chorus of cries about the cost of energy, but that is nothing to the cries of hungry children. Food is a weapon of politics and if Russia is allowed to gain control of these markets they will use food as a weapon to gain political concessions. One’s political will always takes a backseat to the pangs of hunger.
Now is the time for our members of Congress to show some leadership and make a declaration that compels this Administration to end this conflict.
James Graham, Pittsburg
Trump’s praise of Putin treasonous
When Putin ordered the unwarranted and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, Trump immediately praised him for being savvy and brilliant while denouncing American leaders as being stupid and incompetent. He hilariously claimed the invasion wouldn’t have happened if he (Trump) were POTUS. Trump’s only method of dealing with Putin and other murderous thug dictators is to suck up to them. It’s never worked and never will.
Trump’s comments about the Russian invasion and his praise of Putin are treasonous. He should be regarded as a traitor to the USA. Now it remains to be seen if the millions of Republicans, including “Kansas Krackers,” who’ve so blindly and brainlessly worshipped him will realize his true colors, emerge from their comas and somnolence and thoroughly reject him. If they don’t, they disgrace America, the Constitution and probably even God.
Richard Schutz, Topeka
Regents want to become landlords?
I wanted to comment/question a story that Wink Hartman did for your paper about the Regents’ recommendation that universities lease space to companies in exchange for them taking care of deferred maintenance items on the campus.
So is the recommendation that Universities offer space to HVAC companies, Plumbing companies, and others so that the money those companies are paying to their current local tax paying landlords could instead be traded for services on University deferred maintenance repairs?
The tax dollars to build the Universities came from those local taxpaying landlords so how is it fair that now the universities feel it is fair to take their tenants and become their landlord, in other words to compete as a landlord with private sector landlords?
Larry Weber, Wichita
Kansas needs more reservoirs near Nebraska
I agree with the editorial advisory board in its editorial saying that “Water Is Life,” and Kansas legislators should make a Cabinet-level position as a stand-alone position to oversee water policy, conservation and water-quality. Right now, the governor of Nebraska is proactively challenging the Colorado governor in implementing provisions of a century-old “water compact” between the two States.
Similarly, Kansas needs to have similar long-term vision. Although Lovewell Reservoir currently exists just south of Superior, Neb., almost on the Kansas-Nebraska line, the Sunflower State needs to build additional reservoirs nearby, and elsewhere in Kansas, to assure that the breadbasket of the world never goes dry on water: the elixir of life.
James A. Marples, Esbon
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Readers address gerrymandering, Putin, Ukraine war, transparency bill
