Letters to the Editor (Nov. 3)

Wages a plus for Tyson plant

The protests against a Tyson Foods processing plant fail to give the real reason some people do not want the plant here: money. They are bringing 1,500 jobs that pay $10 to $12 per hour for floor work up to $18 an hour for more specialized skills.

This means that many of the people in the city who are employing people at $8 or $9 an hour may find themselves having to raise wages or try to find new people to do the job at the same old rate.

It may not be a great place to work, but for the sake of the family you can put up with a lot. A husband and wife working at $8 an hour can both get on at Tyson and it will be almost like adding a third income.

Is not about the smell or any of the other stated problems. It’s about the money that would have to come out of some employers’ pockets in order to keep their workers.

Effects of slaughtering chickens

There has been a flood of articles and letters regarding the pros and cons to bringing a huge Tyson Foods plant to Wichita. One argument against I haven’t seen is the psychological effects of the slaughter of animals.

What do we tell our children, who would witness an explosion of chicken farms in the area contracted by Tyson? How do we explain to them that on the one hand we should be kind to animals, but that it’s OK to grow these voiceless chickens for the sole purpose of killing them?

But beyond this possible negative effect on children, slaughterhouse workers are also adversely affected. When someone is involved in the day-to-day killing of animals, there is a loss of empathy, leading to severe psychological problems. An Australian study found the aggression levels of slaughterhouse workers were “so high they’re similar to the scores … for incarcerated populations.”

University of Windsor criminology professor Amy Fitzgerald discovered a link between slaughterhouses and brutal crime, which is due to the psychological damage suffered by workers.

Tyson representatives promise they will bring 1,600 jobs to Wichita. But my concern is at what price?

Hedrick for school board District 2

I have had the privilege of knowing Julie Hedrick since the early 1990s. I have worked with her in a variety of contexts: Wichita school district, community projects and faith community events. Hedrick is a person with deep character and integrity. You can trust her with your most prized possession and know, without a doubt, she will be faithful and trustworthy. Furthermore, Hedrick is emotionally strong and responsive and is not one given to being reactive and negative. She is a gifted listener, team builder, and knows how to create consensus.

In addition to Hedrick’s education as an architect and MBA, she brings a wealth of experience and common sense — desperately needed in our day.

This is ultimately about our children – all 50,000 of them – who depend on the Wichita school district for an education that will serve them well in every aspect of life. Julie Hedrickwill not let you or our children down.

Hileman for school board District 2

I would like to take the opportunity to recommend Trish Hileman for Wichita school board District 2. I’ve worked with Trish on our PTO for many years, where she has been a huge source of energy and fresh ideas.

While Trish is passionate in her opinions, she is open-minded enough to see situations through others’ eyes and takes genuine interest in other points of view prior to making decisions. If she comes to the table with a problem, she will also have at least one solution.

Trish does not sugar coat things. We need that level of transparency to tackle the serious state of our district budget and divided board. She has a level of dedication and service we need for our children, teachers and staff members, and schools.

Trish has always been an advocate for all children and when she sees the need, all families. She is a huge asset to not only the schools her children attend, but her community as well. We need the board to move in a positive direction and I feel Trish has the fresh perspective we need in District 2.

This story was originally published November 3, 2017 at 4:46 AM with the headline "Letters to the Editor (Nov. 3)."