(Editor’s note: Due to space constraints, the Patriot will publish up to 5-6 LTEs a week as space allows and carry over unpublished letters to the next week, if able. Also, we no longer have a policy which restricts letter writers from submitting political editorials a week prior to an election.)
TO THE EDITOR:
Parents and teachers know each student is unique. Yet administrators and politicians create policies for students, parents, and teachers to fail. Minnesota, once touted as a leader in education, continues to fall further behind, basically because of “woke” ideologies at all levels of education. Besides, the mandates at the PK-12 schools, add all 54 campuses of the state’s largest postsecondary system, formerly known as MnSCU, renamed MNState. The new plan, Equity 2030, promises to “eliminate” all disparity in academic achievements, regardless of race or ethnicity, complete with a toolkit for faculty to utilize for the desired outcomes or face labeling as racists and suffer “job consequences.”
Minnesota State Chancellor Devinder Malhotra and his Office of Equity and Inclusion attribute the lack of academic achievement to “institutional racism.” The program claims that students have no personal responsibility for their academic success. Their failings are not due to poor academic preparation and study habits, but rather only to the discrimination by teachers and schools. PK-12 schools have failed learners, particularly minorities, in the name of equity and social promotion. Instead of exacerbating students’ failures, Minnesota State should be promoting hard work and high standards. The number of students seeking training and postsecondary education in other states will only grow.
Dr. Phyllis E. VanBuren
Clearwater, MN
TO THE EDITOR:
I wanted to thank you (Patriot) for printing the correction in last week’s paper “Corrections: To Teachers Union story” on page 8. It is great to recognize that the Becker School Board did their homework to understand the group’s mission before they were allowed to speak before the board. I would add that it should be recognized that the main content was provided by two local residents (and former school board members). Also, a reference to the actual discussion on the communications plan should have been provided to give the context to the communications plan that was the subject of the issue. This can be found on the school board portion of the district website in the recording of the May 2, 2022 meeting (contact the district office or email a board member if you need help finding the link) starting at the 43:08 point of the meeting recording. Thanks again for the correction and we continue to value the paper as a way to get the information out to community members.
Mark Swanson
Board Chair, Becker ISD 726
TO THE EDITOR:
There are two candidates for the Sherburne County Commissioner District four when deciding who to vote for, please do your homework. One candidate has 18 years’ experience in local government with extensive involvement with Sherburne County. One is a small business owner and retired farmer with a vast amount of time dealing with employees and business associates in a professional and dignified manner, also working with multiple boards at the local, state and national level. One has been censured twice by the same council that he has to work with because of his treatment of employees and ignoring the process and the rules of the code of conduct. One candidate has conducted himself in a professional manner at all public meetings. One has asked for forgiveness for his inexcusable behavior at a council meeting. Do your research and it will show to vote for Gary Gray for Sherburne County Commissioner. Gary is the only choice you have for an honest, transparent candidate with great character and high integrity to represent District four and all of Sherburne County. Vote Gary Gray on November 8th.
Dave Stimmler
Haven, MN
TO THE EDITOR:
As a constituent of Sherburne County District 4 I have been looking closely at the Commissioner’s race. Jerome “Lefty” Kleis has some disturbing history. In December 2013, Becker Mayor Kleis failed to attend a PUC hearing regarding the closure of Sherco. The absence did not go unnoticed by the PUC commissioner who stated she would love to hear what the Mayor of Becker would have to say on the subject. In an April 2022, public hearing Sherco, Kleis said “Unit 1 and 2 I really don’t have a problem with you shutting them down.” Mayor Kleis has been censured twice for violating the city’s code of conduct concerning harassing behavior. In an October 2014, Lefty apologized for his inexcusable behavior at the previous month’s meeting. Gary Gray is the Supervisor for Clear Lake Township, has filled some civic roles and is a retired potato farmer. So my two choices are 1) a guy who doesn’t show up to represent his constituency and when he does, he either sells them down the road or acts in such a way that he’ll end up getting sued; Or 2) a guy who was a business owner and takes good care of Clear Lake Township. I guess I know which way I’ll vote in November.
Bill Affeldt
Clear Lake, MN
TO THE EDITOR:
This November, four of the five Sherburne Co. Commission positions are up for election. All incumbents need to be voted out of office, and the remaining commission needs to resign. Why? There are many reasons . . . let me start with election integrity. Since prior to February of this year individuals have been providing the commissioners evidence showing how our Dominion voting machines are, (1) designed to be able to change election results; (2) capable of being programed to miss report the actual vote; (3) capable to being “hacked”, so as to miss report the actual vote. This evidence has been provided through numerous “open forum” portions of their bimonthly, meetings where residents can speak but the commissioners — instead of answering — sit stone-faced. Numerous requests for the county to hold a “public hearing” have been made, which unlike open forum, will allow for questions to be asked and addressed, but none have been granted. There are only two reasons for the commissioners to not providing a public hearing on this important matter. They are either incompetent or corrupt. Once a fresh slate of commissioners is seated, the Sherburne Co. Administrator needs to be replaced as it is he that appears to have sway over the organization.
Next week, “Consent Agendas”.
Bret R. Collier
Big Lake, MN
