Why parents don’t trust school officials with liberal agendas | Opinion

Why parents don’t trust schools

Re “Nearly 152,000 CA kids missing out on an education” (Front Page, Feb. 12): Natalie Wheatfall-Lum was quoted saying, “We’re wondering whether families don’t feel comfortable right now trusting schools with their children.” Let me help her with her wondering.

Canceling classes for entire school years, egregious masking mandates, forced vaccines, and encouraging children to cut and paste body parts to match their self-proclaimed gender identities does not garner trust. Many parents of every color absolutely do not trust California school leaders for good reasons. Parents are finding alternative means to educate their children away from the public-school madness.

Rather than putting an end to what parents object to at public schools, officials take the attitude that they know what’s better for a child. When parents challenge what’s being taught and encouraged at many public schools they are denigrated and called liars, bigots, racists, transphobes, homophobes and even white supremacists.

The school has one agenda, and the parents have another. Only a fool would trust a group of people who put their lax work schedule, their financial well-being and their liberal lifestyles and beliefs ahead of what is best for students. And, these parents who object to what their children are being taught are not fools.

Ben Hardister, Modesto

Try transparency, Modesto

Re “Modesto investigating suspicious activity on its computers” (Front Page, Feb. 9): Somehow, I continue to distrust Modesto city government. Rather than step forward, admit there was or could be a problem, the dishonesty of city government again raised its ugly head. How refreshing it would have been had the city staff admitted to a problem, acknowledged “they were on it” and not tried to sweep it under the rug and keep it quiet. I guess my solution will be, raise sales tax again, give city staff more money to squander, and continue to do the same thing that has been status quo for years.

Bill Jacques, Modesto

Delays inflate soccer field costs

Re “Modesto looks to build soccer fields in underserved community” (Front Page, Feb. 14): A resounding “gooooal” shout-out to Brad Hawn for moving the ball forward on the design of new soccer fields. A rousing Bronx cheer for the city of Modesto’s lame excuses for this six-year delay in implementing the 2017 $1 million grant. First, there was no pandemic from 2017-2020. Second, how long and how many personnel does it take to review maps of the city, talk with interested people, and find a suitable location?

The cause of inflation in this case is big-time foot-dragging. Timely work by the city would have mitigated costs and been an economic big win and assured fences and lighting features as part of the cost. Instead the bureaucracy gets a delay-of-game red card from this referee.

Robert LeFevre, Modesto

Funny fundraiser backfires

Re “Animal shelter has unique Valentine’s Day fundraiser” (Page 2A, Feb. 8): Let’s raise money for Stanislaus County Animal Services. The services are a necessary entity for our community but understaffed and underfunded.

A horrible idea that became an actual fundraiser activity is coming from a dark place. For $25 you could have your “hated” ex’s name put on a litter box at the shelter on Valentine’s Day. The Modesto Bee (covers) this under the mindless premise that it is helping the shelter raise funds. Poor leadership displayed by poor judgment and a defense mechanism of “We’re just joking!” sets the stage for the anything-goes mentality that demeans our community and society in which we live. Anytime hatred is promoted it can give permission to dimwitted minds to spread hatred. Hatred is evil. Evil has no place in our society and we must all stand against it.

So, send a donation to Stanislaus County Animal Services and declare that you are doing it in the name of love and care, not foolish hatred.

Daniel Bruce, Modesto

Kudos for HBCU tours

Re “Modesto City Schools board OKs plan to send 30 students on tour of historically Black colleges” (Page 4A, Feb. 8):

I was delighted and impressed by the story by Deke Farrow regarding the opportunity for MCS students to tour HBCU colleges. What a wonderful opportunity for these students. I am also happy to see that these tours may be opened to students of other ethnicities in the future.

Thank you, Deke, for bringing this to our attention. We need more of this type of reporting.

Nancy Howard, Modesto