May 18, 2012
Friday

I believe that Mr. Guenther, a man who made his living as a teacher for decades in this small town is most likely a role model to hundreds of the young adults who live here. As a person who holds (or held) a position of authority in the classroom while dispensing both wisdom and grades, he is looked up to with respect. He has influence. So when a man in that position writes a letter to the editor, I believe it should be a well developed essay that contributes something meaningful to the public discourse on significant issues.

Anybody can sling mud, write a list of bullet points, or make point/counterpoint statements designed to provoke a reaction. But that kind of babble is best left in the writer's journal as free-writing, brainstorming, or just plain vomiting on the page. What deserves to be submitted for public consumption is a coherent piece of writing that follows strong statements with supporting evidence and information that gives readers insight into the issues. Unsupported accusations are not helpful.

In college, students are frowned upon for turning in that kind of work because professors can see they are just being lazy. Whatever Mr. Guenther has to say about the GOP, he can probably say it better. And I wish he would, even if he has to hire a tutor to help him do it. Because I believe we deserve better from our public educators.

Alethea Johnson
Ketchikan, AK

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