Letters to the Editor for Jan. 10, 2019

Take time to thank School Board members in January By proclamation of the governor, January is School Board Recognition Month. It's a great time to recognize our elected community members who selflessly give their time and energy in support of high-quality public schooling for our youth. School board members in the Camas School District are entrusted by this community with responsibility for an annual budget of $151 million, 7,200 students, 1,200 employees and 17 buildings. School boards are charged with making decisions that can sometimes be quite difficult, or require sifting through a great deal of information. They also bear responsibility for developing a vision that will guide the school district for years to come. Through collaboration as a team, and with school district staff, their governance and advocacy are building the future of education in Washington state. This January, we're encouraging all members of the community to thank a board member. Please thank them for volunteering their time and playing a critical civic role that helps form the bedrock of our democracy -- public education. As a crucial bridge between the local community and the school district, their efforts are instrumental in helping all of us realize the hopes and dreams we have for the children of our community. The men and women serving the Camas School District and their years of service are: Doug Quinn, 14 years; Connie Hennessey, 14 years; Erika Cox, one year; Tracey Malone, two years; and Corey McEnry, one year. For more information about the Camas School Board, visit camas.wednet.edu. Jeff Snell, Camas School District superintendent Nonstop media coverage encourages Trump's narcissistic behavior Democrats are sometimes faulted for not having a positive policy message -- just anti-Trumpism. But how can one discern whether that's true when reliable mainstream news is so dominated by President Trump's bizarre, dishonest, vindictive and narcissistic behavior. Important news hardly gets a word in edgewise because of nonstop coverage of Trump; and this only encourages additional drivel from him. Curiously, this is how James Comey, in his excellent book, "A Higher Loyalty," describes his meetings with Trump. Comey seldom got to speak, even when summoned by Trump for Comey's opinion. So how should reliable media treat Trump? More often ignore him, just as good parents should do with a misbehaving child demanding immediate attention. To be realistic, often Trump's reprehensible behavior does have significant negative impact, including worldwide. That makes it difficult for responsible journalism to ignore in favor of fundamentally more important news. Admittedly, this letter violates its main point of ignoring Trump. However, it illustrates the dilemma of Trump-watchers as well as parents: the temptation to generally react to, rather than ignore, outrageous behavior. But more often ignoring Trump's frequent misbehavior may be the only way the media can ever give Democrats equal time. Norm Luther, Spokane, Washington

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