Airport accident

To the editor:

For those of us who live in close proximity to the Kissimmee Gateway Airport, for years we have questioned the wisdom of the city in promoting the airport. This is a densely populated area and with the most recent plane crash between the Thacker Elementary School and the YMCA the city now needs to reconsider any further expansion for what appears to be the future for another accident with more disastrous results.

Bernice Staton
Kissimmee

Response to schools letter

To the editor:

In response to the well written and praise filled opinion piece – Our schools’ improvements can bring jobs – by Linda Goodwin-Nichols from the Kissimmee/Osceola County Chamber of Commerce (Jan. 22), the Osceola County School District is extremely appreciative to be recognized positively for the gains that have been made through the hard work and dedication of every employee at all levels of our organization. The commitment of our staff to the district’s mission and goals set forth in this difficult time of cut backs, belt-tightening and continuing economic struggle for our students, parents and our own employees makes these positive outcomes that much more impressive — something the community as a whole can be proud of having a part in achieving.

As the director of career and technical education (CTE), I did want to bring forward the importance of career training programs to Osceola County’s business growth. It is the philosophy of CTE and the School District that career exploration and training is a lifelong process, starting in the elementary grades and moving all the way through training adult learners for new career paths. We strive to develop a strong local workforce through training and developing courses that meet the critical needs of the community. The more partnerships and communication links that the School District develops with the business community will help develop the growth of our students at all levels and create a direct connection between our graduates and the careers that await them.

Career and technical education has grown exponentially in its importance in education. So much so that high school grades now take into consideration those students who are enrolled in “career academies.”

One of the greatest attributes of career education is its direct link to student engagement and relevance of core subject matter. Career and technical education curriculum is designed by its very nature to link real world applications to core subject matter. STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) programs found at all grade levels throughout the district are designed to bring the applications of science and math into technology, family sciences and engineering career paths by the integration of the grade level core subject matter into elective CTE classes. This process strengthens the bond between the sciences and math into real world applications through inquiry and project based learning that develops critical thinking and problem-solving skills, technical reading and writing skills, and promotes the development of soft skills like teamwork and leadership — skills that are necessary at every level of business.

In conclusion, we continue to set higher expectations for students and higher goals for staff. The growth and development of the School District for our business community and all of the citizens of Osceola County is part of the planning process of the School District. We continue to expand programs for adults to get the training they need to be successful in finding new careers in difficult times, training employees of local businesses to strengthen the skills of their staff, and building relationships in all areas of business development and training for emerging technology and the evolving careers in the 21st century. Together we can grow the future leaders and economic development of our community.

Mark Hunt
Director, Career and Technical Education

Brad Kibbe 

STEM resource teacher School District of Osceola County

Addressing issues

To the editor:

I’m thankful for this country where there is freedom of speech and the free exercise of our religion, as guaranteed in the First Amendment. We may not all agree with one another, but respectful dialogue is encouraged. I don’t claim to have all the answers, but I’d like to address some issues that have been in the Osceola News-Gazette recently.

In the Jan. 20 issue, Ms. Murray wrote expressing her concern over the possible threat of Islam taking over our country and stealing away our freedoms. In the Jan. 29 ONG, Mr. Miller tried to correct Ms. Murray, saying she misquoted or misunderstood many Quranic passages. Thankfully, most Muslims worldwide are peaceful, yet it causes me concern when I see television coverage overseas showing Muslim radicals marching in the streets, waving the Qur’an as their inspiration, and chanting things like, “Death to the infidels.” This has not happened in the recent events in Egypt, but it has happened at other times. In countries like Saudi Arabia, religious freedom is limited to only one religion, with the practice or promotion of anything non-Islamic punishable by expulsion (for foreigners) or death (for Saudi citizens). Rather than educating American non-Muslims, perhaps there is a greater need overseas to educate radical Muslims to embrace a more peaceful interpretation of their Scripture, and to encourage countries like Saudi Arabia to allow its people the freedom to choose whichever religion they please.

Also in the Jan. 29 ONG in another opinion, Mr. Duff tried to respond to Ms. Murray with questions that actually were more confusing than clarifying. All of his confusing points dealt with laws in the Old Testament, which are specific only to Israel living under God’s “Theocracy” (which was much better than living as slaves in Egypt). Most all of Mr. Duff’s questions are answered by reading his listed verses in context, studying the culture at that time in history, and by looking to see how they were addressed in the New Testament. Old Testament capital offenses like blasphemy and sexual immorality are still wrong today in the New Testament age, but the response of God’s followers has changed from executioners to bold and loving heralds of God’s good news of salvation through Christ’s death on the cross. Jesus said to the woman caught in adultery, “Neither do I condemn you (grace), now go and sin no more (truth)” (John 8:11).  The consequences for all sins – “big or small” – has always been condemnation and spiritual death before an Almighty and Holy Creator (Romans 6:23). In an act of unconditional love, God stepped into history in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, and He paid the penalty we all deserve for our sins (Romans 5:8), providing the only way by which mankind may be reconciled to God. At the cross of Jesus, we see the justice of a holy God and the grace and mercy of a loving God in one historical act.

To answer some of Mr. Duff’s questions, slavery in the Bible was never commanded but it was conceded, especially for the repayment of debts (no filing for bankruptcy back then). Trimming hair was never punishable by death in the Old Testament. Go ahead and enjoy an active game of “pig-skin” (Acts 10:9-16).  And for those whose eyesight is a little out of focus, there is “wiggle room” to enter God’s sanctuary (Hebrews 10:19-22).

Larry D. Nieboer
St. Cloud