Thanks for recognizing
cheerleaders’ hard work
On behalf of the West Rowan High School Competition Cheerleading squad, our cheer parents and all of the WRHS fans, I would like to thank the Salisbury Post for the news coverage of the 2008 All-Rowan County Championship Cheerleading Competition, which was held on Feb. 9. The article was both informative and well written, and the photos were outstanding. We hope the Post will continue to cover this newsworthy annual event, which we consider to be our most important competition of the season. All the Rowan County cheerleaders work very hard throughout the year and receive very little recognition. Your news coverage helps to recognize their efforts. Once again, thanks to Steve Huffman, reporter, and Jon C Lakey, photographer. Keep up the good work.
ó Reaha Roach
Roach is the cheerleading coach for West Rowan High School.
Coverage disappointing
I too would like to add my congratulations to North Rowan Elementary School for being chosen as one of seven schools in North Carolina to receive the 2008 Lighthouse Award. This award indeed recognizes the work by faculty and staff as they continue to strive to meet the needs of their students.
While working as a Communities in Schools volunteer at North Elementary, I learned that the school had been chosen to received this award. After reading a lengthy front page article in the Feb. 10 Salisbury Post and learning that A.L. Brown High School had received the same 2008 Lighthouse Award, I was anxiously awaiting the article which would announce that one of our own Rowan-Salisbury Schools had been honored as well.
But instead of equal coverage, the announcement concerning North Elementary’s award was hidden in the education section of the Feb. 16 edition and was a total of three sentences. To say we were disappointed was an understatement, and I would think that many people may have missed the small article altogether.
North Rowan Elementary School certainly deserves congratulations for earning this distinguished award. Perhaps it also deserves the apologies of our local newspaper for not receiving the same coverage offered to a school outside our school system. I would hope that in the future, the accomplishment of any Rowan-Salisbury school would be reported with pride and the press coverage it deserves.
ó Bill Wiseman
Salisbury
Editor’s note: The article on A.L. Brown’s award appeared on page 4C, packaged with other education news. The article on North Rowan Elementary’s award appeared on page 3C, also packaged with other local education news. Both articles came from press releases sent by the two school systems. The A.L. Brown article was longer because school officials provided more detailed information about their award.
Practice what you preach
In response to Ron Turbyfill’s patriotic letter of Feb. 27, I totally agree with the tongue lashing he gave Mac Butner regarding his lack of knowledge (or fear of it), in regards to respecting all peoples and nations. However, I’d like to remind Post readers that Turbyfill was the first to get in line to trample the rights of his South Rowan students in denying their right to form a Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA).
Narrow-mindedness and intolerance stem from a lack of knowledge, or as Turbyfill points out, a fear of it!! Whether it’s a fear of foreigners/immigrants, places/nations or a particular group of people who don’t fit Turbyfill’s or Butner’s mold. One narrow-minded person attempting to shame another narrow-minded person for acting out, though, is much like the pot calling the kettle black.
Perhaps someday Turbyfill will realize that the United States isn’t threatened by its gay and lesbian community either but strengthened by it!!! If you want to preach about respect and tolerance for all peoples, you should practice what you preach.
ó Michael Clawson
Salisbury
Clawson is the state coordinator for PFLAG N.C. (Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays).