Letters to the Editor

Newspaper in the classroom 

Since you are reading this, it means you read the newspaper. How many students do you think look at the newspaper? I think it is a pretty small number. Unfortunately, with our world moving at the rate it is, students rely on the internet and social media to get any breaking news.

I know we cannot turn back the clocks and expect students to rely on newspapers for current events. That would be especially true with a weekly paper. However, I believe that our students would gain much and learn something new by looking at our weekly paper; actually holding it in their hands and reading it.

Since teachers spend a great deal of their own income on school supplies, and extras for their classrooms, I would like to ask our community to participate in a newspaper sponsorship. What I mean is: If you are able, pay for a nine month subscription to the Staples World. You could even designate a particular class you want to sponsor; maybe your child, grandchild’s class. 

Maybe not all grades would be interested in having the newspaper delivered to the teacher’s mailbox, but I am sure there would be plenty who would. Students could look through the paper and find local news. They could find pictures of friends and family and take a minute to celebrate a friend’s success. There could be discussion about the differences in getting news from a paper, and getting news electronically.

Several friends and I came up with this idea, and we hope you will participate in this challenge. Maybe it will be a part of a social studies class, maybe it will be part of a study activity. There can be several ways a local newspaper can be utilized in the classroom, and we hope you will be creative in your thinking of how a newspaper can enhance a classroom. Look for the information form in the paper. Fill it out, drop it off at the Staples World, or mail it in with your support.

Let’s not abandon all our traditions! Thanks for reading and your consideration!

Pam Collins

Staples, Minn.

Grateful for experience 

Bill Flagg, a U.S. Navy veteran, went on an Honor Flight hosted by the Staples Host Lions. Before he died at age 96 this past Aug. 4, he asked me, his wife, to be sure to thank everone for the best experience he ever had, including the people he met.

Bill was African American and he was so happy that all the white people did this for him and treated him so well. He shared the story of the trip, the photographs and the video with everyone who came to visit him. 

Eva Flagg

Emily, Minn.