Saving Grace trips helped students learn
We at Saving Grace Farm are deeply saddened by the decision of the Rowan Salisbury School System to discontinue their participation in our equine experiential learning program.
This program has served the exceptional children’s students for more than six years and recently had integrated a learning based method that was successful in enhancing the lives of students. Lessons were designed to reinforce and solidify the concepts teachers were working on in the classroom. Research has shown the positive benefits of adjunct opportunities taught in unique and motivating arenas. In addition to improving trunk strength, balance, cooperation and attentiveness, our very special horses helped these children practice spelling, adding, subtracting, matching and communicating. They also provided other benefits such as self-esteem, sensory integration, communication skills and daily life skills.
We have received overwhelmingly positive responses from both parents and teachers for our program. Saving Grace Farm is a Premiere Accredited Center with the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association. Only the top centers in our industry have this designation, and we are very proud of the professional service that we have provided for the Salisbury students. Our hope is to re-establish this relationship so that our students can continue to experience the beneficial, and ultimately motivating, activities at Saving Grace Farm.
If you or someone you know may be interested in these or other wonderful opportunities, please give us a call at 704-638-2339 or visit our Web site at www.savinggracefarm.com. Our main goal has always been to serve the best interest of the children and the community, and we are honored and blessed to have had this opportunity over the last eight years.
ó Stacey Carter and Jill Hoben
Salisbury
Hoben is executive director and Carter is program director/equine specialist at Saving Grace Farm.
Dear Senator: Help
I happened to overhear a conversation while waiting in line in Wal-Mart this weekend. A gentleman was talking to someone on his cell phone about being busy flying around the state with Elizabeth Dole taking photos for her re-election.
As a teacher at her namesake school, Hanford Dole Elementary, I had to take offense with the idea of her taking photos showing how much she has done for North Carolina. We have only had the pleasure of her company at our school twice in nine years. First, at our opening ceremony and the other time one Saturday, four years ago, at re-election time.
If Senator Dole is so concerned with our schools, why has our Title I funding been cut, along with the loss of many important positions in the RSS system? I would like to have her visit when our children and teachers are here hard at work. Her office has been contacted about the status of Hanford Dole Elementary as being one of two in our system that did not meet AYP goals, and that the high school in our district is under governor’s watch as a low performing school. If we ever needed her help, it is now!
ó Sylvia Bailey
Spencer
Finally, the truth
Josh Steedley’s Sept. 29 letter hits the nail right on the head. Unfortunately, our far-left leaning hometown newspaper (and I use the term newspaper loosely) is more interested in the New York Times reporters (and I use the term reporters loosely), Leonard Pitts (a real racist), the L.A. Times and now Dr. Michael Bitzer at Catawba College instead of reporting what most of us already know.
This mess is squarely on the social policies of the far left who have the total support of the media, including our beloved Post. The Post needs to take a look where they are at. Instead they’re trying to make news and disregard the conservative majority here in Rowan County.
I would like to see Michael Bitzer ask questions of blacks which he claims have been asked of white people. Oh, I’m sorry but only whites can be racist? The left is angry and claims whites are racist because only 43 percent said they would vote for a black candidate. When I last checked the polls, 4 percent of blacks would vote for a white candidate. That’s 96 out of 100 who will vote for a candidate because he is black. Can you say racist here?
So, Mr. Josh Steedley (maybe I should call you doctor), your letter is exactly right. Keep up the good work and write more letters. It’s better than the fairy tales our beloved Post will keep printing.
Maybe Catawba College will wise up and hire you. At least you state the facts.
ó Ron Boss
Salisbury