Smashed window is another tragic setback for historic Black church in KC’s Northland | Opinion
History destroyed
Washington Chapel CME Church in Parkville was targeted Saturday. Intruders destroyed a historic and spiritual asset: the 1907 John McAfee Memorial Window.
Please support our neighbors and friends in our community prayer vigil of grieving, restoration and forgiveness at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, at the church, 1137 West St.
In addition to this domestic terrorism attack demolishing this important window, thieves recently broke into the church once before, adding to the cost of necessary repairs to the building.
Washington Chapel is a historic Black church and the spiritual, social and visual focal point of Parkville’s African American community. Built by formerly enslaved members in 1907, the church initially boasted a large, active congregation. However, because of discrimination resulting in a lack of opportunity, most of these families left the area over the years.
Church membership has declined to but a small, elderly congregation. The building, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, has suffered greatly. The bell tower, roof, bathroom, ceiling, floors, masonry and sidewalk need repairs. Every time it rains or snows, the sanctuary suffers internal damage.
We are part of your community. Please be our allies.
- Barbara Luetke, Kansas City
Info missing
Todd Graves is entitled to the opinion he expressed in his Jan. 18 guest commentary, “School choices, not teachers’ unions, help.” But why would a sitting member of the Board of Curators of the premier public university system in Missouri decide to trash public education? Maybe he shouldn’t be on said board at all.
The Star’s opinion editors let down the readers by not disclosing Graves’ membership on the board in the essay’s endnote, and Gov. Mike Parson should never have supported him in that role.
- Todd Wade, Kansas City
Watchful eye
The Kansas City, Kansas, school district has decided not to install cameras in classrooms because of disapproval from teachers, students and parents for various rationales. (Jan. 24, KansasCity.com, “After teachers, families threaten to leave, KCK axes plan to put cameras in classrooms”) Opponents cited a litany of reasons they objected, from potential disruptions to invasion of privacy.
I think a golden opportunity is being missed that would have aided in learning: a reduction of disciplinary problems in the classroom. Cameras would not be needed if students were more disciplined. But it takes only a few to nurture chaos and frustrate teachers and those students wanting to learn.
Install cameras in classrooms, and I bet you would see disciplinary problems decline. They would provide proof about what really goes on for all to see, especially parents contesting whether their children are at fault.
Yes, I can understand concerns about invasion of privacy — Big Brother watching you and all that. But you have to begin somewhere.
Most of all, schools should not capitulate just because people disagree based on their own self-doubts or abilities.
If teachers, students and parents placed the priority on learning, the cameras would become invisible. Metal detectors in our schools, airports and other public places weren’t welcomed at first, but now watch what would happen if they were discontinued tomorrow.
- Kenneth Goodwin, Blue Springs
Flame kept alive
To the gas stove naysayers, (Jan. 23, KansasCity.com, “Gas stoves have a pollution problem”) I say this: During a recent power outage, while you gathered around your now-useless electric stove and electric coffee machine, I was able to enjoy a hot cup of coffee and hot breakfast without alarms going off or falling to the floor gasping for breath.
- Bruce Lee, Lenexa
