Notice: Undefined index: HTTP_REFERER in /home/stparch/public_html/headmid_temp_main.php on line 4394
Newspaper Archive of
Shelton Mason County Journal
Shelton, Washington
January 5, 2023     Shelton Mason County Journal
PAGE 3     (3 of 39 available)        PREVIOUS     NEXT      Jumbo Image    Save To Scrapbook    Set Notifiers    PDF    JPG
 
PAGE 3     (3 of 39 available)        PREVIOUS     NEXT      Jumbo Image    Save To Scrapbook    Set Notifiers    PDF    JPG
January 5, 2023
 
Newspaper Archive of Shelton Mason County Journal produced by SmallTownPapers, Inc.
Website © 2025. All content copyrighted. Copyright Information
Terms Of Use | Privacy Policy | Request Content Removal | About / FAQ | Get Acrobat Reader




Page 4 - Shelton-Mason County Journal Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023 Women and men andall of us ixty-three years of Sage —- my age — is a careless time to make proclamations about human behavior: One has enough wisdom to recognize pat- terns and enough foolish- ness to believe one can make assumptions about those patterns. Of all the assumptions someone of any age is prey to, the most hazardous — outside of race — are com- ments about how women and men differ. The forces that govern the relationships between, and among, the sexes are as complicated as a teenager’s emotions and as unknowable as a cat’s inten- tions, and a wrong step while talking about those forces can drop you in a pit where sunlight is a slit high above your head and no one is will— ing to toss down a rope. But, what the hell. Let’s give it a go and let chromo- somes fall where they may. First, the differences KIRK ERICSON THESE TIMES between men and women are not as profound as the simi- larities. Women and men want the same basics out of life: Love, acceptance, safety, camaraderie, purpose and af- fection. Second, women and men don’t fit into tidy niches. Not all women and men are similar to all women and men. This consideration of the differences between the sexes is a sideshow to the.- real show, the show where we’re all on stage together performing in the same play at the same time. We can have different roles, but the roles deserve equal bill- ing. We’re all just trying to make it through to the final curtain without flubbing too many lines. Let’s begin our trip. A woman shouldn’t offer unsolicited advice to a man who’s engaged inscrewing up a mechanical task. Men tend to get emotional about that. And a man shouldn’t describe a woman’s unso- licited advice as “shrill” or “strident.” Women tend to get emotional about that. Men should understand women want to talk. Women should understand that men hear, but don’t listen. Men should understand that flowers influence a woman far beyond the in— tention with which they’re given, and women should understand that giving flow— ers does not come naturally to a man. Let’s dig deeper. Those examples of dif— ferences are symptoms of something deeper, much as your physical characteristics are projections of your DNA. What is the thing that seeds ‘ the emotional gardens of women and men? What’s at the root? Maybe it’s this: Women give birth to life and men put that life at risk. Men are boys on their bikes yelling, “Look! No hands!” If the boy doesn’t hurt himself, he wins. If the boy hurts himself, mom soothes him. Males have something deeply wired that makes us think puttingour- selves at risk will impress the people we’re trying to impress. Women have an emotional investment in the species that men don’t have. Women nurture life, they sustain life, they’re the guardians of the life galaxy. Men, mean- while, are boys figuring out ways to hurt themsglves and other people. They start wars, they go too fast and break bones. They like con— flict, speed and things that go ka—boom. They’re the ones jumping over bonfires. And that’s exactly what men bring to the party: Risk. Without risk, life is boring. Risk makes those moments absent of risk more edifying, more satisfying. Women need men and men need women, just as women need women and men need men. For as long as this corporeal and spiri— tual experiment continues, it will be so. Women grind men’s edges and men have edges to grind. It’s a closed system that any electrical engineer would admire. OK. ‘ I’ll stop. I can see the distant rays of sun recede. I Contact Kirk Ericson at kirk@masoncounty.com V LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Support teachers Editor, the Journal, Dear friends in the Shelton School District, As we approach voting time for the replacement levy for our local schools, appreciate this opportunity to tell you about my school experiences over the last year. Most people know me as the owner of smoking Mo’s restaurant in town, but some new faces now know me as Ms. M0, the substitute teacher. little over a year ago,’I developed some health issues that required me to step away from full—timekitchen work. After hearing a number of friends discuss the extreme teacher shortages our schools are experiencing, decided to throw my hat into the substitute game. did this both to help my own family financially, but also to be able to better understand the inner workings ofour school system. You see my daughter started kindergar- ten during the pandemic. . For most of her first year,.her school— work was done on a'computer at our kitchen table. During her first—grade ' year, parents weren’t allowed inside the school in an attempt to keep COVID out, which totally understand. But, as a parent, it was an unusual and scary feeling to send my little one ofi every day to a place had never been full of . Wmnmmmuu llamal Uses 492-800 ' posrwsren: Send address changes to Shelton-Mason County Journal, P.O. Box 430, Shelton, WA 98584. Published weekly by the Shelton—Mason County Journal at 227 W. Cota St, Shelton, Washington. V Mailing address: R0. Box 430. Shelton, WA 98584 Telephone: 360426-4412 Website: www.masoncounty.com , Periodicals postage“ paid in Shelton, Washington. people didn’t really know. Eventually, was able to apply to be a parent vol- unteer. Once a week I was able to spend one hour helping out in my daughter’s classroom. That progressed to me ap— plying to be a part—time substitute teacher. One year later, I can tell you . from personal experience, our schools and our teachers need our support. Chil- dren come to school hungry, and too ofien the price for snacks that I’ve seen young kids rely so heavily on each day falls on the teachers. School supplies, again, paid for by teachers who barely make enough to support their own families. . You think teachers only work from am. to pm? Wrong. Lesson planning can’t be done during class, so teachers take their work home with them. Again, those materials provided by the teach- ers. Trying to teach every day to all dif- ferent personalities and abilities in one classroom is so hard, so hard, but our teachers do it with true love and care for their students. Catering to so many dif- ferent needs also requires more learning materials and educational opportuni- ties, all of which require jimding. Even sports and clubs serve their need. For some students it’s their eligibility to play that is the only thing that keeps them motivated to stay in school. For some, perhaps the locker room is their only Ownedand published by Shelton-Mason County Journal, Inc. The Journal is a member of the Publisher: John Lester Advertising: r Theresa Murray, Ad Representative reliable place to shower. Yes, we have homeless kids attending our schools, and even the smallest amenity at school can make the biggest difference in their lives. All of these little things come with big costs, but they can provide-even bigger rewards to those who most need them. . Kids bring troubles from home in with them, and it’s our teachers and school stafi‘ that pick up that weight in order to give their students a safe place and mo— ment to rest. ' I am telling you, from what I’ve seen with my own eyes, our teachers need help. Our students need help. Too often I hear, well my kids are grown so I shouldn’t have to pay for schools anymore. To you, I say consider this: Consider where those young kids will be in 10 or 20 years. They’ll be our shop owners in town, our lawmakers and city workers, our first responders, , our neighbors. One of those little kids may even be the doctor that greets you or your loved one at the hospital some- day. Kids grow up fast, and regardless of whether they’re in your life now, they most certainly will be someday. That’s why their education should still matter to everyone. That’s why their well-being is a responsibility we all share. And that’s why this levy matters. As the new semester begins, I send Front office: Dave Pierik. Office Administrator Karen Hranac, Customer Service . Washington Newspaper Publish- Delivery: ers Association. Newsroom: Jon Garza . 1 Justin Johnson, Editor David Olson SUBSCRIPTlON RATES: Gordonweeks. Reporter Niel Challstrom $79 per year ($55 for six months) ‘ for Mason County addresses and $99 per year ($70 for six months) outside of Mason County. Single issue price $2.00 Matt Baide, Reporter Kirk Boxleitner, Reporter Kirk Ericson, Columnist/ Proofreader Shawna Whelan, Photographer Composing room: all of our teachers my gratitude and respect. Their job is not easy, but they rise to the challenge with grace, creativ- ity, kindness, patience and inspirational energy. And to my fellow voters, please, if not for our teachers now, then vote “yes” or the future of our little town. I thank you for your time and consideration. Monica (Mo) Carvajal-Beben Shelton Have a good year Editor, the J ourna], I really do wish everyone a happy and peaceful new year! I hope for a safe and prosperous future for the country, too, but with the current administration, that’s ifi‘y. To all of you who voted for Joe Biden for president and now regret it, you , were horribly duped, but had plenty of company in the scam. I suggest victims here check the TVratings, seek out the truth and switch channels. ’ Now go out and have a happy new year. ' Robert E. Graham. Union see LETTERS,'page 5 Creative Director: Lloyd Mullen All regular editorial, advertising . and legal deadlines are 5 pm. the Monday prior to publication. To Submit a letter to the editor, email editor@masoncounty.com. Kim Fowler. Advertising Design Linda Frizzell, Advertising Design a