What kind of government does the US have? Benjamin Franklin had a warning | Opinion

Ben’s warning

Benjamin Franklin was once asked if we have a monarchy or a republic, to which he replied: “A republic, if you can keep it.”

- Jim Kilen, Kansas City

Honoring schools

As we approach the 2023-2024 academic year, Kansas City’s charter public schools shine. The fifth annual Kansas City Excellence in Education Awards took place Aug. 10 at Kauffman Stadium, honoring 20 educators with $10,000 awards. Backed by Royals Charities and SchoolSmartKC, this program celebrates the relentless commitment to academic excellence in both Kansas City’s district and charter public schools.

These awards represent the commitment to quality public education in our region. A recent study from Stanford University’s Center for Research on Education Outcomes underlines the importance of public school options that include charter schools. The report revealed that charter school students nationally outpace their peers, showing notable growth in math and English.

Specifically, Missouri charter school students received 39 additional days of reading and 56 additional days of math instruction, leading to strong academic growth.

In post-COVID-19 academic recovery, 10 Kansas City charter schools ranked in Missouri’s top 20, a testament to the success of the charter school model. Practices such as longer school years, smaller class sizes and personalized student focus are leading to stronger academic outcomes.

These triumphs inspire further commitment to quality education and help us build a brighter future for all our students.

- Noah Devine, Executive director, Missouri Charter Public School Association, Kansas City

Priced out

“Best fans in the NFL.” “Arrowhead is tough because of our fans.” “Loudest stadium in the world!”

These are statements I’ve heard from the Chiefs organization regarding what are arguably the most loyal fans in the National Football League. My family has been part of that kingdom for more than 50 years.

We, along with the rest of the fans, cheered the Chiefs when they’d line up in goal-line situations with four wideouts because the running game was nonexistent. We were there when we ran two starting quarterbacks with not much success. The fans were still there when you won two, three and four games a season.

“Best fans in the NFL.”

We’ve long supported the Chiefs organization. My family went to the games often.

Now, after the Super Bowl wins, the ticket I bought 12 rows off the field not long ago for $115 is $800. This is how Chiefs management supports the kingdom.

I’ve heard the justification: “supply and demand for the product on the field.”

There’s a big problem with that. The demand on the fans now is simply way too high.

That loyalty thing, it should go both ways. But, then again, maybe they want us to watch commercials.

- Jim Findlay, Lee’s Summit

A parent’s heart

I was so intrigued by Vahe’s Gregorian’s commentary about George Brett and his abusive father. (July 30, 1B, “Brett celebrates journey & legacy 50 years after call-up”) Toward the end of the column, Gregorian asked Brett whether he thought he’d have still been a Hall of Famer without his father driving him relentlessly. Of course that’s unknowable to anyone, and Brett simply replied, “Who knows?”

I believe that a great number of societal problems are caused by such parents, who believe the most important parts of parenthood are things such as discipline, strictness and toughness — instead of love, nurturing and age-appropriate trust.

If Brett’s dad were alive today, he’d probably say something like, “Look where he ended up. My way worked!” Indeed, it might have been interesting if Gregorian had asked Brett one final follow-up question: “When you were young, if you had been given the choice of a Hall of Fame career or a loving father, which would you have chosen?” Maybe he didn’t bother to ask because anybody with a heart already knows the answer.

- Randall William Cain, Lake Winnebago