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November 2005
ssharp@ink.org
Friends:
Town Hall Meeting
Don’t forget this Sunday’s Town Hall Meeting!! We will meet at the HyVee cafeteria at 87th and Pflumm. Drop in to chat and do some shopping… Chili weather is headed our way.
Announcements
Personal Activities and Education
Where’s Waldo
Resources
Announcements
Congrats (or condolences?) to Mayor Mike Boehm
Lenexa Mayor Mike Boehm was recently elected as the President of the League of Kansas Municipalities. This is quite an honor for Mike, and in turn, the City of Lenexa. Looks like Mike’s shoulders just got a little broader! Congratulations, we’re proud of you!
Sharp Shadow:
Throughout my terms, I have consistently invited you to join me for a day at the Capitol. A couple of you have taken me up on it. Now I want to make it more formal by starting the Sharp Shadow program. You shadow me through committees, the House Chamber, lunch, and all the other activities that take place at the Capitol during a typical day. One day out of your work schedule to see first-hand the inner workings of Kansas politics will be a day well spent!
How to: Look at your calendar and reply to this email to let me know when you are available, and I will tell you if we are in session. Your best bet for the most excitement will be on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays. We head back to Topeka on January 10th and are there through mid-April, full-time.
Spotlight: As a Sharp Shadow, I will write a brief bio and tell about our day in the Sharp Record.
Personal Activities and Education
Obviously, we have all heard about the Kansas State Board of Education’s actions with regard to science standards. And no, there’s nothing I can do about it, either way.
However, during my school visit to Shawnee Mission West last week, I heard some great insights that echoed my thoughts on the issue. First, let me share my quick thoughts – this has been my stance since I first ran for office, and as always, some of you will agree, some of you won’t.
· I think kids should be taught evolution because that is what is expected around the globe for entrance to colleges, especially for any prospective medical or science students (of which we are in dire need).
· I do think schools should mention there are other theories out there, without denouncing the widely accepted tenets of evolution. These students weren’t born yesterday (although it’s hard to get used to the idea that today’s teenagers were born in the 90s!). They know about the controversy, they’re in the middle of it, and it seems like everyone is ignoring the reality they are living through. We can’t just pretend this controversy isn’t happening right here, right now. They know better.
· That being said, I don’t think creationism/intelligent design/new earth should be taught, just mentioned as other concepts. Personally, I do not want my future children learning a version of creation that differs from our family’s religious views. How would you write curriculum that satisfies every concept’s religious variations? It’s my job to teach that at home.
I heard the same thing from the students at West (I hope that’s because I haven’t been out of school THAT long. Yes, I’m trying to convince myself of that one). They are frustrated that they are being left completely out of the equation. The most amazing and encouraging thing they said? They suggested teachers mention the other theories and tell students to go home and ask their parents about them! I thought this was not only insightful, but also fascinating to hear teenagers asking to have moral and educational conversations with their parents! If you are a parent, I encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity.
School Visits
I wanted to share a quick observation about each visit:
Rising Star – Did you know Principal Gary Proctor also has beehives? It was great to see him bring the science of bees alive for the children, as he dressed in a creative beekeeper’s outfit on Halloween.
Shawnee Mission West – Again, how the students wanted to be involved in their own learning and its direction.
Shawanoe – The discipline used to ensure every child is ready to learn is a great lesson for all of us, not just in school, but to use in our homes as well. You can read more at: http://www.ozanam.org/bist.html
Benninghoven – Sixth graders are creative marketers! I visited Benninghoven on Market Day and saw the students drawing the real world connection between math, English, and communication skills in a business setting.
Shawnee Mission Northwest -
Sunflower – What a fun place to learn! And what a growing school – they were able to (as most of my area schools did) reduce class size and improve learning by adding new teachers with the “extra” money from the State this year.
Trailridge – Haylee Slocum gave me a nooks-and-crannies tour, she knew everyone and every room! Then, I was interviewed for Trailridge’s “morning news”.
McAuliffe – This morning was a great experience I shared with area veterans. Dr. Kent Peach is a veteran, and he worked with parents to organize a special flag-raising at the school in celebration of Veterans’ Day.
Where’s Waldo
· Spoke to SMSD Model Legislature students about the role and structure of committees in the legislative process.
· Legislative luncheon at St. Luke’s South – the beginning of my “Medicaid/Health Care Weekend”
· Attended Rep. Kevin Yoder’s wedding – congratulations Kevin and Brooke!
· Observed the “By The People” deliberative democracy session. One highlight
· Spoke to the Adult Sunday School at St. Paul’s Methodist Church in Lenexa.
· Hosted my October Town Hall Meeting
· Attended an organizational meeting for Resurrection West, Church of the Resurrection’s next location at K-10 and K-7.
· Council of Mayors’ legislative dinner
· Fundraiser for Rep. Kay Wolf
· Fundraiser for Rep. Terrie Huntington
· School visits (see above for details):
o Rising Star
o Shawnee Mission West
o Shawanoe
o Benninghoven
o Shawnee Mission Northwest
o Sunflower
o Trailridge
o McAuliffe
Resources
Are you getting any “Greeking” of text in my emails? Some email servers change apostrophes into odd Greek letters. Let me know if you see these odd characters. I’m trying to find out how many of you see them.
Until then, please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of service to you.
Rep. Stephanie Sharp
PO Box 19556
Lenexa, KS 66285
17th District, Kansas House
Serving Shawnee and Lenexa