Editorials

The tragic shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., prompted many, if not most, schools systems across the country to re-evaluate their safety plans.
It also has prompted calls from some — including people in Roane County — to dedicate a school resource officer at every school.
Resource is a key word here. If resources were no object, it would be fine to assign an officer to every one of Roane County’s 17 elementary, middle and high schools.
We could be even safer and assign an officer to each and every classroom.

By KEN PAULSON
President, First Amendment Center
When a Minnesota man felt his family was treated shabbily by a neurologist, he made sure the world knew about it.

Dennis Laurion posted caustic reviews of Minnesota neurologist David McKee, saying he was insensitive to his father’s needs and claiming that a nurse called the doctor “a real tool.”

This angered Mc-Kee, who offered his own prescription: a libel suit.

The announcement of Kingston City Manager Jim Pinkerton’s retirement leaves us with mixed feelings.
He has earned the opportunity to give up the working world and spend his free time as he sees fit.

For that, we are happy for him and his wife, Wanda.

On the other hand, it saddens us to think of Kingston city government without him.

Pinkerton has been with Kingston for 12 years. He has done an excellent job advising and executing the demands of the city council and managing and taking care of city employees.

By Ken Paulson, President, First Amendment Center
In 1940, a group of community leaders in Champaign, Ill., joined together to give young people a better moral foundation by offering religion classes in the public schools.

It was creative, thoughtful and well-intended.  It was also unconstitutional.

The Champaign public school district’s decision to invite representatives of multiple faiths to teach in its classrooms led to a historic U.S.  Supreme Court decision handed down 65 years ago on March 8, 1948.