President Bush’s latest approval ratings confirm the conventional wisdom that Americans think highest of him when he’s the post-Sept. 11 defender of freedom on a mission to safeguard the homeland by taking out terrorists “over there.” Several polls have found Bush back above 40 percent approval ratings since the Sept. 11 anniversary, and the public’s perception of terrorism as a crucial issue has risen, too. There is still concern about the GOP’s prospects for the midterm congressional elections — Republican National Committee chairman Ken Mehlman, told the Boston Globe that “it’s the sixth year of the president’s term, the public is in a sour mood, we’re in the middle of a tough war” — but this uptick has to be heartening for Republicans. So do numbers suggesting voters still trust Republicans more than Democrats to handle terrorism.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
Wichita can’t ignore the threat of dog attacks in some neighborhoods. It’s a tragedy waiting to happen. But as we argue in today’s editorial, banning or restricting ownership of certain breeds such as pit bulls isn’t the answer. Large, aggressive breeds such as pit bulls and rottweilers can make wonderful pets if properly trained. It’s irresponsible dog owners who are the real problem.
Current ordinances targeting misfit dogs and owners seem tough enough. The city needs to hire more animal control officers to enforce them.
Posted by Randy Scholfield
The antics of two guys in cockroach costumes during the Kansas State Fair debate of Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and GOP challenger Jim Barnett were meant to make a statement about the governor’s vetoes of abortion clinic regulation bills in 2003 and 2005 — meaning that thanks to Sebelius, abortion clinics remain safe havens for pests and vermin. But Operation Rescue members and others upset about the vetoes conveniently overlook the fact that Sebelius has said she would gladly sign a broader bill regulating all outpatient surgery clinics consistently. Such a bill passed the House this year but stalled in the Senate. By insisting on the narrower bill, anti-abortion legislators seemed more interested in creating a campaign issue against Sebelius than in cleaning up clinics.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
Nobody likes Ike quite like Kansans, but more Americans will come to know of President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s contribution to the nation when a full-scale, plaza-style memorial honoring Ike goes in across the street from the National Mall in Washington, D.C., perhaps in 2011. The National Capital Planning Commission unanimously approved the site, a place of honor that puts Eisenhower in a class with presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy. The funding, perhaps $60 million to $100 million, would have to be approved by Congress. Some will note that Washington is getting overbuilt with memorials and wonder whether Eisenhower warrants such treatment. But the proud son of Abilene’s productive presidency looks better all the time, especially for its creation of the interstate highway system, balanced federal budget and peacetime prosperity.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
In 2005, the average reading scores in Kansas students topped out in fifth grade with 78 percent proficient and dropped to 68 percent proficient by 11th grade. The math score drop was worse; 89 percent in fourth grade, plunging to 53 percent by 10th grade. So what happens if we follow the new push reported by Newsweek magazine to create a gentler curriculum, giving kindergarten and first-grade students less time focused on the basics?
The Title 1 middle schools listed in Tuesday’s Wichita Eagle facing decreased funding would not want to see students less prepared than they already are as scores historically decrease each year after fifth grade. Though we may go overboard at times with testing, readiness testing for all students entering school makes sense, as does teaching students math and reading skills from early ages.
Meanwhile, a new study by a Duke University professor argues that middle-school students receive little if any academic benefit from studying, save from some reading and basic skills training.
Posted by Angie Holladay
