Nothing militant

about tea party

Please reference the Tribune-Star editorial “The Politics of 2012” published Wednesday, May 2.

I couldn’t resist the chance to respond to our friends at the Trib who wrote this editorial. The focus of the article was the tea party’s influence on elections. They point out that although some tea party-backed candidates are nominated, because of upholding conservative ideals they are ultimately beaten where the more moderate Republican incumbent may have won. Because the tea party candidates were not “mainstream,” they lost.

I believe the tea party group is aware this may happen in some cases but also recognizes that “mainstream” politics is one of our country’s biggest problems. We can no longer afford “mainstream.” It is what is making us a debtor nation. The people of this country must change the way Washington, D.C. thinks and acts.

However, what I really want to address is a very subtle implication by our Trib friends who wrote the above-mentioned article. The third paragraph of the editorial they used the term “militantly conservative.” What our liberal friends appear to be doing is planting the seed in the readers’ minds that the tea party is a militant group — that the tea party is combative, extreme and confrontational. Perhaps they have the tea party confused with the Occupy group. Nice try, Tribune Star, but that won’t fly.

I invite everyone to visit the wabashvalleyteaparty.com site and read their mission and goals. Not only are they not militant, but their views are shared by the majority of people in this country. Isn’t it sad that when sincere citizens want their government to be responsible they are labeled “militant?” By the way, at the tea party’s last meeting May 1, several Democrat candidates spoke and were warmly received and applauded.

— Mike Collins

West Terre Haute

Resources abound

to prevent child abuse

As a child clinical psychologist and member of the CARE Council, a Prevent Child Abuse Council for Vigo County, I was disappointed with the narrow focus taken in Lisa Trigg’s article on child abuse (”The Littlest Victims,” April 29, Tribune-Star).

Ms. Trigg’s article on child abuse in Vigo County highlighted individuals and organizations that focus on tertiary prevention of child abuse, or activities that focus on families where maltreatment has already occurred. Unfortunately, the article made no mention of the many resources we have in place in Vigo County at the primary and secondary levels of prevention.

Primary prevention activities are directed at the general population to stop maltreatment before it occurs. Examples of primary prevention interventions in Vigo County include programs that support children and families such Ryves Hall Youth Center, 14th & Chestnut Community Center, CHANCES For Indiana Youth, Hyte Community Center, Family Y, and the Vigo County CARE Council.

Secondary prevention activities focus on families that have one or more risk factors associated with child maltreatment such as poverty, parental substance abuse, parental mental health concerns or child disability. The 2010 Kids Count data (Annie E. Casey Foundation) notes that 27 percent of children in Vigo County live in poverty, which is well above the 22 percent average nationwide.

Programs in Vigo County that support secondary efforts to prevent child maltreatment by supporting families at risk include Healthy Families, Vigo County Head Start, Early Head Start, Wraparound Vigo County, and Children’s Bureau. Effective efforts to prevent child abuse and neglect involve investing time and resources into ensuring that all children in our community have the opportunity to develop intellectually, socially and emotionally.

Although Vigo County has many resources available to assist children and families, there is need for additional support. The beauty of primary prevention is that all members of the community can both contribute and benefit. By becoming involved as mentors, volunteering at an after-school programs, providing support or child care to a stressed parent, or simply by showing a child that you care and recognize his or her value, you are making a significant difference in the life of a child.

The mission of the Vigo County CARE Council is to promote community collaboration to ensure the safety and well-being of children and families in our community. CARE Council has been working to promote collaboration, advocacy, awareness of resources and education about child development and parenting in Vigo County since 2007.

We are currently planning activities for 2013 and would invite any individuals interested in making a difference in the lives of children in our community to join us. For more information visit our website at: www.carecouncilin.org.

— Liz O’Laughlin, Ph.D.

Professor

Psychology Department

Indiana State University

IDOE chasing

red flag of bias

It was recently reported in the Tribune-Star that the Indiana Department of Education is initiating a program to pay students to take advanced placement courses to encourage them to go to college, as well as to shorten the time to complete a college degree. In addition, I understand a bounty will be paid teachers based on the number of their students passing advanced courses/tests.

Where similar schemes have been somewhat successful on a short-term, transitional basis for problem students (Cohen, Montgomery County Schools in the early 1970s), this scheme seems tied primarily to the numbers game and targeted to students who should be among those more highly motivated anyway.

Just what values are we trying to encourage (a priority of money or a priority of personal pride in teaching and learning)? There seems to be a mixed message from our leaders in the IDOE, e.g., that it is good to pay students to learn, but advanced education for teachers is not valued for professional advancement.

Do we really want our teachers to stop learning and become non-thinking educational technicians, test monitors and bounty hunters? Or do we want exceptional teachers who enjoy and are challenged by their students and take personal pride in their teaching and their students’ learning and accomplishments.

I really think we need to pause to think about our educational product as a whole, not just scores on redundant and expensive testing (enriching test manufacturers, some of which are tied to politicians). Should we be focusing on numbers of products off the assembly line (students, graduates, passing college preparatory courses, years to complete college, etc.). Some of these data are needed and helpful, but they often reflect the economic and educational status of students found in certain geographic areas of the state.

Educational fads come and go as influenced by politicians and money to support them. It seems that the focus is becoming more on process and less on the student’s individual needs. There was a time when there was an emphasis on time on task.

Now the attention is being shifted from the task to evaluation for the sake of teaching through testing.

Our IDOE leaders are more like bulls chasing the red flag of their bias rather than working through a comprehensive, well-balanced plan with minimal disruption to the student’s education. As our leaders strive to win their game, they risk losing it by failing to keep their eyes on the ball.

— Raymond Quist

Terre Haute

Ping gives voice

to all voters

As a middle-class working family, I would like to share some of the accomplishments of my husband, Ed Ping, during his term on the County Council.

Ed has always voted against any unnecessary spending while ensuring county services are provided to the fullest. Ed has worked diligently and effectively for systematic results. He is a considerate person that thinks of others before himself. Ed has always been open to listen to other council members to include the commissioners and the community. He believes that it takes everyone working together to accomplish the greater good for all.

Ed is willing to work with any and all new programs that would benefit the county in growth. Ed was in favor of and worked with council members to ensure the creation of new programs, such as the New Health Clinic for county employees. He supported the commissioners on the fuel program. Ed worked effectively with all companies in the south industrial park through their hard economic times. Ed is knowledgeable in what it takes to maintain and create job growth. Ed spoke on behalf of distributing raises for county employees in a fair and equitable manner

Ed demonstrates a strong functional knowledge of county government. He encourages the stimulation and interchange of ideas to benefit the entire community to include: business, labor and everyone. Throughout the years, he has consistently been involved in community events. He has grown as a strong and reputable family man and spiritually. Ed has lived in Vigo County for many years and looks forward to providing opportunities for his grandchildren to live and thrive here.

The accomplishments during his term on the council, supports our opinion that he is a voice for everyone.

— Cindy Ping

Terre Haute

Charity auction

set for June 30

We are making plans for our 14th annual St. Ann’s Charity Auction. This is our largest event and our most successful with over $59,000 raised in the past 13 years. One hundred percent of the funds raised will go directly to St. Ann’s Clinic. This money is used to provide medical care to families in our community who have no insurance and no support by either Medicare or Medicaid for their medical needs. The Clinic operates solely on donations with local doctors and nurses donating their time.

Last year the Wabash Valley Motorcycle Club raised over $12,000 for the clinic. We were able to raise this amount due to our generous donors.

St. Ann’s Clinic offers medical, dental and optical services to several surrounding counties that include Vigo, Vermillion, Parke, Sullivan and Clay counties in Indiana, and Edgar and Clark counties in Illinois. With the economy as it is today, St. Ann’s Clinic needs your help more than ever.

We are asking for your help to make this year another success. Everything that is donated will be auctioned. So please join us by providing merchandise, monetary donations, gift certificates, etc. Whatever you can give will be greatly appreciated.

The St. Ann’s benefit auction will be Saturday, June 30, at the F.O.P. located at 1655 S. 14th St., Terre Haute, and starts at 5 p.m. The public is invited.

We wish to thank you in advance for your support.

Please make checks payable to WVMC (Wabash Valley Motorcycle Club). Items donated, including checks, may be given or mailed to: WVMC, P.O. Box 10921, Terre Haute, IN 47801. Or call and we will gladly pick up any donation at your convenience.

If you can help in any way or have any questions please feel free to call (812) 533-1024.

— Steve Johnston

President, WVMC

Terre Haute

Great support

for meeting

The Vigo County Extension Homemaker Clubs recently hosted the spring district meeting for nine counties. This event was held at the spacious and comfortable Oregon Baptist Church. I would like to take this opportunity to express my thanks to all of the following people and businesses.

A big thank you goes to Jerry and Dick Kackley for all of their support, and Leon Johnson, Al Whitlock, Dale Whitlock, Marvin Mericle, Bob Decker, and Mike Christy, for all of their help. Thanks also to the Vigo County Extension Homemakers Clubs for all of their support. It was the greatest pleasure working with them and especially our HHS educator Katarina Yackley.

I would like to acknowledge the following businesses for their donations: First Financial Bank, Cobblestone Crossing Health Campus. J.R. Scripts, Union Hospital, Regional Hospital, Clabber Girl, Indiana State University, Area 7 Agency on Aging, Terre Haute Convention and Visitors Bureau, Mel’s Diner, Tabco, Terre Haute Savings Bank, Sam’s Club, the Tribune-Star, J’Lin Catering, and Amy Watson.

I would also like to thank those who donated items to the Wabash Senior Citizen Center.

Without all of these factors, it would not have been such a great success. My heartfelt thanks goes out to all who helped in any way possible.

— Judith Johnson, president

Vigo County

Extension Homemakers