Editorial: Thumbs

To the Albert Lea girls’ swimming team.

Even readers who don’t follow swimming were glad to see the success of Lindsey Horejsi and the Albert Lea team. A commenter on Facebook said, “I am not a fan of swimming, but when I see kids from Albert Lea doing things like this young woman I get excited.” Congratulations on the team placing fifth in the state and on Horejsi taking home titles in two events — the 100-yard breaststroke and the 200-yard individual medley. One of the Albert Lea relay teams took second, and another took third. Way to go, Tigers!

 

To assault in any form.

There has been too many appearing in the newspaper lately, huh? Assault, at its basic definition is when one person physically harms another on purpose without consent, like with a punch or a shove or throwing an object. Domestic assault is when it that happens between two people in a relationship, including spouses, siblings or even roommates. It even applies to former relationships. The urge to turn to violence as a solution during a disagreement — whether with loved ones or near strangers — means the mind has given up on reason. Anger is a normal emotion and can cloud the mind, but expressing anger, like yelling, elevates a disagreement away from the issue at hand. So then hurting other people obviously escalates the disagreement far away from the issue. Many new ones arise. It’s not always about who starts a disagreement. Who elevates it is probably more important. Be smart. Taking the high road of being level-headed almost always wins.

 

To the Albert Lea school board.

It’s cold and chilly right now in November, so giving a thumbs up on air conditioning seems a bit awkward, but we commend the school board for work on heating and air conditioning in the schools. The upgrades will save money, but the real plus for students is that at the start of 2014 school year, all schools in the Albert Lea district will have air conditioning. That may seem inconsequential to the tough types who walked two miles uphill both ways to school in the olden days, but the truth is sweaty, hot, smelly school rooms distract from the mission of educating. If we, as taxpayers, go through the trouble of funding buildings, teachers, computers, books, desks, supplies and administrators, then we ought to make sure that learning happens, right? If a simple thing like lack of air conditioning gets in the way, then it makes sense to install air conditioners. That said, we hope classes never get dismissed over a heat wave.