Editorial: Thumbs

To the Lake Mills volleyball team.

Congratulations on winning your ninth consecutive North Iowa Conference title on Tuesday with a 3-1 victory over Forest City. We notice that the consistently successful prep sports programs in the area — whether it is Lake Mills volleyball or Albert Lea wrestling — start teaching that sport to the kids early, as in during grade school. With so many high school teams, the players don’t get exposed to the sport until seventh grade or even ninth grade. That’s late. Moreover, those early years learning the sport aren’t about winning so much as they are about player development. Just because Susie can’t jump as high as Julie in sixth grade doesn’t mean she won’t become the next star player. Lake Mills knows the formula. Development for JV players and below leads to varsity success. Other schools ought to follow the example.

To the Third Grade Farm Tours.

There is no doubt of the educational value of this annual field trip for third-graders coordinated by the Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce. It helps students see that their food doesn’t just come from a grocery store. And it helps students understand that agriculture is a big part of local life. Kudos to the chamber for the program, and thanks to the schools for letting the children take a day to visit three farms.

To Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

He was the president, then the prime minister and now he is seeking the presidency again. Strange? Yes.

Individual freedoms and human rights have declined sharply under his rule, yet he remains popular. A guy like him in the United States wouldn’t last long. We are a liberated people. We fought off a king, heckle our presidents and question governmental authority.

Perhaps people of countries that have had dictators for most their history, when given the right to vote, actually want authoritarian rule. That said, there are Russians who would love to have the sort of freedoms in their country that are enjoyed here in the United States, Canada and in many European countries. There are Russians who question whether having the same guy more or less endlessly rule what is supposed to be a democratic country is good for government. It’s just that the ones who speak out are censored, intimidated, beaten or even killed. Look up the story of Anna Politkovskaya for an example.

To free admission for students and staff to Albert Lea High School sports during Homecoming Week.

Considering the push to increase student attendance at sports contests, this is a good idea. This coming week is Homecoming Week, and we want a good showing of students and staff of the district. The ALHS activities are good entertainment with the sort of honest-to-goodness pure sports that too often is missing at the college and pro levels. Getting to see some prep sports for free, well, heck, there is no excuse to not go.