Letters on funding zoo, closing observatory, non-licensed teachers, Kobach, Westar hike, funding universities, high airfare

County breaking another promise

Once again, the Sedgwick County Commission has floated the idea of cutting the budget of the Sedgwick County Zoo after earlier committing that funding would be in place (“Less money for zoo, museum,” July 15 Eagle). The zoo has started the construction for the elephant display after raising monies and receiving the commitment from Sedgwick County. Now it may be left holding the bag.

This is just another instance in which commissioners cannot be trusted for anything that they say or commit to on a fiscal basis. Broken promises, broken promises. If you cannot make the promise of a commitment, then do not make that commitment. Very shameful.

Observatory shock

I am disappointed that a bigger push wasn’t made to raise funds and public awareness before announcing that the Lake Afton Public Observatory was closing (July 15 Eagle). I’ve been to the observatory many times, and the funding problems were a complete shock to me.

Eleven years ago my family and I were stationed in Turkey, and we had a good idea our next assignment would be where we would settle and raise our family. We desperately wanted to come back to the Midwest, even though our roots were in the Southeast. We knew the schools, the churches and the Midwestern lifestyle were a perfect match for our family values. Wichita has not disappointed. We have found many new friends, are thrilled with the schools and love our church.

However, many people in the Wichita area, as well as their institutions of higher learning, haven’t quite figured out the intangibles that the arts, sciences and culture bring to a society. This area has the largest population in the state, and yet these institutions are failing financially, as they are not supported in the way chain restaurants are. Furthermore, there seems to be no appetite for public funding of these worthwhile institutions. It’s no wonder companies and jobs are moving out and the area is no longer attracting and retaining the brightest people.

I hope a community-minded institution or public grant will swoop in and save the day, but that seems unlikely.

No license?

Would you send your child to a doctor or dentist who is not certified or licensed? Now your child might spend much of the school day with a non-licensed, non-college-trained teacher (“Kansas Board of Education OKs change in licensing for teachers,” July 15 Eagle).

There is so much more to teaching than just knowing the subject matter. This includes classroom management, understanding that not all children learn the same way, and having the ability to change a lesson so all students may learn. Students who are not engaged in learning usually become frustrated, not caring about their education.

Our elected and appointed leaders in Kansas are making changes to education that are detrimental to our children. As a retired educator in Kansas who taught for 40 years, I don’t like the future of public education in Kansas.

Wrong candidates

“Participants in latest economic development effort laud progress” (July 11 Eagle) looked like an example of unintended consequences.

The article said business executives are concerned about having enough skilled workers, want more research and development in new technologies, and want schools to provide more training. All of these matters require a good educational system.

Unfortunately, many businesspeople supported candidates who, once elected, cut funding for schools and universities. They should have supported the moderate legislators who would have pushed for better school funding.

Changing subject

It is not surprising that Secretary of State Kris Kobach would suddenly show great interest in getting Congress to ratify the multistate health care compact (July 15 Now Consider This). Having finally browbeaten the Legislature into giving him the power to prosecute the tons of voter fraud he claims to be occurring, now he has to actually find some to prosecute. Because the “fraud” he refers to already has been shown to be virtually nonexistent, it’s not surprising that Kobach would want to rapidly change the subject.

Bottom line question about his current interest: Given the “accomplishments” of the most recent Kansas legislative session, how would you like the state of Kansas to handle your Medicare?

Fund universities

With a lack of adequate state funding of Kansas universities, student debt is very worrisome. Will university students even be able to repay these debts when salaried at most workplaces?

The state of Kansas needs to fund higher education more adequately so that higher education is affordable. Well-educated workers are needed at any place of business. University education should be a right, not a privilege, to all who meet required standards. A watered-down university curriculum must not be in evidence, but a challenging university education is needed, requiring in-depth learning, critical and creative thinking, as well as problem solving.

The state has outstanding universities that need adequate funding on a stable basis to maintain high standards of education. Continuous improvement of university education is necessary to make continuous educational progress. This costs money, and the state should not shirk in funding it. This keeps university student debts from spiraling. It encourages students of needed abilities to attend and move forward in life’s challenging endeavors.

Let us rise to the occasion.

Rate hike unfair

The rate and policy changes Westar Energy is requesting once again go after the poor and help the wealthy (“Board: Westar downplays billing, solar rate changes,” July 12 Eagle). Basing rates on usage is only fair. I should not pay extra so big retailers that make millions can get more profit by not paying their fair share. If they choose to be open 24 hours a day and run their lights and cooling and heating systems full blast, they should pay for it.

Punishing small-time solar users with excessive fees is also wrong.

Maybe this screw job on Kansas ratepayers won’t be approved, but I would bet on the Chicago Cubs to win the World Series before betting on this to be voted down by the lapdogs on the Kansas Corporation Commission.

Expensive airport

Is all the hoopla about the new Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport worth it? Granted, the new facilities look nice, and getting from one part of the airport to another may be a little easier. But I was planning to fly from Wichita to Atlanta in August. When I saw the cost of the airfare, I almost fell out of my chair.

I have made this trip several times in the past, and the cost ranged from $350 to $450. Now it is more than $800.

Flights out of Kansas City, Mo., the same day and the same time, cost a little more than $400.

Besides all that, the service at Eisenhower does not seem to be much better. I recently picked up a friend at the airport, and he had to wait almost 45 minutes before his luggage arrived on the carousel.

Is the expense of building a new, unneeded airport being passed on to those who want to fly out of that airport?

Assaulted by ads

I turn on the TV I pay $100 a month for, and it is mostly ads. The radio is about the same. The phone rings: salespeople. The mailman comes: junk mail.

Before I retired, I was paid to work. Now I have a full-time, unpaid job saying “no.”

I am a World War II veteran, and this is not the freedom I thought I was fighting for.

This story was originally published July 18, 2015 at 7:04 PM with the headline "Letters on funding zoo, closing observatory, non-licensed teachers, Kobach, Westar hike, funding universities, high airfare."