Role Models

Dear Editor, On June 19, 1910, at the request of Mrs. John Bruce (Sonora Louise Smart) Dodd, the ministerial association of Spokane, Wash., led by the Rev. Conrad Bluhm, held the first Father's Day observance of which there is record. Since that observation 96 years ago, the third Sunday in June has been set aside as a special day on which fathers are honored and tribute is paid to them by recognizing the tremendous importance of their role in the family, in the church, in the community and in human society.

Editor's note: Danville High School seniors in Jennifer Shearer's English class were asked to answer this question - "Are professional athletes good role models?" - as part of a "Real World Writing" unit. This is the second of a two-part series with their opinions on pro athletes. I disagree and agree with the statement athletes are bad role models. You can't just say that they are all bad when most do well. Some athletes are bad role models. In a different side, some make great role models.

Young people, by definition, are joined at the hip with fantasy and acquired knowledge that often comes through difficult periods of trial and error. Children, crawling like worms across any surface prior to learning to walk, taste anything that comes within reach of their hands. It is a difficult period of life for those who watch them and find, inevitably, that there is no adult mechanism in place to prevent things being pulled from tables, sucked out of drawers, thrown into space, and pulled apart.

Sunday marked the 104th anniversary of the birth of Theodore Seuss Geisel, better known as "Dr. Seuss," and many area elementary schools have spent the week celebrating his birthday with special reading activities, games and parties. In conjunction with the National Education Association and the Read Across America program, "Dr. Seuss Week" promoted literacy and the love of reading to children across America. Many schools had community, business and school leaders as guest readers.

Dear Editor, A serious study of history reveals one thing: Great civilizations of the past faced many serious problems. Natural disasters of epic proportions and devastating wars occurred, but great civilizations survived them. However, no civilization survived the disintegration of the home. When the home failed, civilization collapsed; therefore, the real danger facing the civilization of which we are a part does not come from the catastrophic effects, some think, will be brought on by global warming but from the disintegration of the home.

Want to find out more about how to help the children in your life? Try these websites for more information: 4 A family guide to keeping youth mentally healthy and drug free - http://www.family.samhsa.gov/ 4 Parents: Be Role Models for Your Children http://www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/publications/allpubs/SVP-0010/default.asp 4 Parenting Horizons articles - www.parentinghorizons.com/articledirectory.asp 4 15+ Make Time to Listen... Take Time to Talk initiative, includes links for free publications - http://www.

Dear Editor: For years, because of career responsibilities, I seldom had an opportunity to go back to the little country church - Rose of Sharon - that I attended during the early years of my life. But, on those rare occasions when I did have an opportunity to return there, one thing always seemed to happen. Some of the neighbors I had known since childhood would come up to me and say, "Why, Willie Howard, you are the spittin' image of your daddy. " Hoping those kind folk meant more than physical likeness, I always took their comments in the best possible way, believing that they were paying tributes to my father and offering compliments to me. Most children, by nature, are excellent imitators.

In today' s world of glitter and show, we often lose sight of the attributes of the real people who have shaped our families and country over the years. It seems as if the worse the behavior, the more likely it is to receive coverage. What a shame. The "real" attributes of our role models should be and are much less flashy. These role models are our parents and leaders who have decided to do the right thing. They are extraordinary in the best sense of the word. They become "far more than is usual or expected.

Dear Editor, From Heath High School near Paducah, Ky., to Virginia Tech University in Blacksburg, Va., an invisible line meanders across this land called America to connect a number of places that sadly are remembered for a series of heartrending events. In recent years, a terrible tragedy, unimaginable to reasonable minds, occurred in each of those otherwise unrelated places. In detestable acts of violence, many good students and some faithful faculty members died ruthlessly at the hands of other disgruntled, misguided, troubled, and evil-possessed students.

It was, indeed, a pleasant visit at the end of a long and busy day.  The father, the mother, and their little son welcomed us graciously into their home. As we visited, the little boy, active and playful, was expressive and interacted with us in a pleasant way that made the visit most enjoyable. At once, some things were obvious; it was noticeable in several significant ways that the life of the father was having a decidedly shaping influence upon the life of that little boy.  Beyond his physical appearance that was the result of gene transmission, the influence of his father was obvious in the son's attitude, imitative habits of speech, and behavior.  In so many ways, the little fellow talked and acted like his father.

Like most teen girls, 15-year-old Jessica MacMillan is passionate about fashion. Her favorite color is purple, and she “loves shoes too much.” But there is one fashion trend MacMillan is trying to buck, and she wants to encourage other girls to do the same. As a devout Christian, MacMillan said she is troubled by how revealing clothing styles in America have become, and the message being sent to young girls. This Saturday, MacMillan wants to expose girls ages 8-12 to a different kind of fashion, one that is fun and trendy, but also takes into consideration modesty and age appropriateness.

To borrow a slogan from a formerU.S. Marine Corpsad campaign, Clark County Public Schools is looking for a few good men and women. Clark County and school districts across the state are looking for adult volunteers who are willing to give about 20 minutes of their time to participate in Operation Preparation, a statewide initiative designed to assist eighth- and 10th-grade students in planning their career paths to be sure they are college and...

With his pompadour hairdo, 1950s era clothing, comical props and sound effects, Retro Bill carried his audience of elementary school students on a roller coaster ride from gutbusting slapstick comedy one moment, to a quiet stillness the next as he delivered a serious message about bullying and staying away from drugs and alcohol. And judging by the enthusiastic response during the performance, the more than 1,200 Clark County school children who packed the George Rogers Clark High School auditorium Wednesday to hear the popular motivational speaker and comedian deliver his high-energy message as official spokesman for the DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education)

DANVILLE - Instead of learning about Matthew, Mark and Luke, kids at Vacation Liberty School will hear about of George, Samuel and Benjamin. America's Founding Fathers, the Constitution and faith's role in American history will be the focus of the Boyle County 9/12 group's five-day course this summer, co-coordinator Janet Gordon said. About 13 students already have enrolled in the Aug. 1-5 program, but there is enough space for about 50 students, she said. The classes, aimed at 10-15 year olds, will highlight lessons organizers believe public schools curriculums neglect, such as Constitutional freedoms, instructor Becky Pattie said.

We are a great nation, and “we do big things,” President Barack Obama said in his State of the Union address Tuesday night. While his speech didn’t match the eloquence of John F. Kennedy or Ronald Reagan, his message was the same as theirs: America doesn’t settle for less. It’s a message that doesn’t sit well with those who talk of austerity. Throughout his Washington career, Obama has held up Reagan and Kennedy as role models. He couldn’t choose two better ones for this time in our history.

Kevin Sharkey will tell you that when he was in high school, academics weren’t at the top of his to-do list. “I wasn’t that good of a student,” says Sharkey. “I didn’t challenge myself.” But during much of the last 15 years, Sharkey has made up whatever ground he may have lost in high school and more than challenged himself. After graduating summa cum laude from Eastern Kentucky University in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in political science, Sharkey excelled at the University of Kentucky College of Law, earning a law degree in 2009.

Dear Editor, It was a beautiful Sunday morning. A group of young adults, as they approached the entrance to the church, greeted one another pleasantly. A young couple carrying their first-born child proudly joined them. It was a special moment charged with emotion as the couples admired the newborn baby and congratulated the proud parents. One of those in the group, after looking at the newborn baby, said, "Isn't he precious?" Another commented, "I think he looks just like his daddy.

"It's not just about looking pretty," 18-year-old Andrea Walker said about the Miss Teen pageants. "It's about being a well-rounded woman who is going to make a difference in her world. " Seeing as how the reigning Miss Kentucky Teen will move on to Miss Teen America August 2, Walker just might know what these pageants are all about. The secret ingredient? "Being well-rounded and prepared for every area," she said. "Being passionate and genuine is also important. Some people fake who they are, but a lot of people can see through that.

Dear Editor, A serious study of history reveals one thing: Great civilizations of the past faced many serious problems. Natural disasters of epic proportions and devastating wars occurred, but great civilizations survived them. However, no civilization survived the disintegration of the home. When the home failed, civilization collapsed; therefore, the real danger facing the civilization of which we are a part does not come from the catastrophic effects, some think, will be brought on by global warming but from the disintegration of the home.