Letters to the Editor for May 28

Punishment for Glendale student showed lack of leadership

The incident at Glendale High School on May 9 is interesting in the dynamics of the administration versus the student. The information given indicates that Mary Walton violated school policy by making a video of the teacher speaking derogatory language in the classroom. Josh Groves, principal at Hillcrest, makes a clear statement how both acts were unacceptable, and the teacher was escorted from the campus once the video had been viewed.

Imagine what would have happened without the video. Mr. Groves and others would have listened to this student and others and said, “We only have your word, there is no other evidence, we will keep this under watch.” But he had the evidence and acted decisively. Then he turned to Mary Walton and acted decisively, following the handbook of published rules for the school. She was given a three-day suspension.

Warren Bennis has said, “Managers are people who do things right and leaders are people who do right things.” It appears that we have management people who followed the rules.

Mary deserved to have a leader step up and say, “Mary we know, and you know, that you violated the rules according to the handbook. But without your help we would not have been able to act quickly and decisively. Thank you. There will be no action on our part against you as you made a video providing evidence of a teacher being very unprofessional. I remind you that normally making a video in school is not acceptable, but you have helped us have a better high school. Thank you. Have a wonderful day and a great summer.”

We should expect a public apology to Mary and a statement that her records have been expunged.

Harold Peters, Springfield

Funding for substance abuse treatment needed

A May 23 article published in the Springfield News-Leader headlined “Springfield voters will decide in August whether to add 3% marijuana sales tax” states “Revenue from sales of the drug would be earmarked for city public safety, housing, and substance abuse/mental health prevention and treatment.”

If this tax is voted in I hope the substance abuse/mental health prevention and treatment piece is given funding at least equal to public safety and housing.

To my knowledge the City of Springfield has never directly contributed funding for substance abuse treatment.

Rick Matz, Springfield

Ashcroft pitch misses the mark

Jay Ashcroft, governor-in-waiting, writes that he is the answer to our legislative woes here in Missouri. He says he can break up the Republican infighting and deliver real solutions for our state’s problems, like runaway spending (by his fellow Republicans), trans youth run amok and winning all the high school sports trophies, and Chinese balloons.

These “issues” are the concerns he raises in his latest letter to the editor.

If Jay Ashcroft is the answer, we need new questions.

Darren Morrison, Greenfield

Debt limit discussions raise concerns for Missourians

Our leaders in Washington are currently discussing how to avoid a default on the nation’s debt. Included in discussions are some concerning provisions that would directly impact lung health here in Missouri, including ones that threaten healthcare and air quality.

1,417,836 Missouri residents rely on MO HealthNet to access quality, affordable healthcare. One provision under discussion would add barriers to healthcare called “work requirements.” According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, 91% of individuals in the Medicaid expansion group are either workers, caregivers, students, or unable to work due to illness. These requirements aren’t about work, they are about adding unnecessary and burdensome paperwork that results in people losing their coverage due to red tape.

Other provisions under discussion would repeal tax incentives for clean energy or would open the door for building more polluting energy sources like coal and gas while weakening the public’s right to engage in those permitting decisions. More than 1 in 3 Americans live with unhealthy air. Adding more pollution will exacerbate health challenges.

As the senior manager of advocacy with the American Lung Association in Missouri, I know firsthand the importance of healthcare and clean air for people living with chronic diseases like asthma and COPD. If these provisions went into effect, many more people could face poor air quality or the loss of their healthcare coverage, leaving them unable to manage their chronic lung disease, which results in more dire, costlier care down the road.

These provisions would especially harm people with disabilities, children, individuals who are pregnant and seniors in nursing homes. I ask that Senator Hawley and Senator Schmitt reject the “work requirement” policy for Medicaid and the buildout of additional polluting energy to better protect the health of all Missouri residents.

Laura Turner, American Lung Association's senior manager of advocacy for Missouri and Arkansas

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Letters to the Editor for May 28