There’s nothing like a good witch hunt | LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Published 9:43 am Saturday, October 19, 2013

To the editor:

I attended the recent school board meeting where the main topic, and draw of a full house, was the issue of childless male volunteers working at our grade schools during the lunch and recess periods.

Concern over what their motives, and qualifications were addressed, even their character was questioned as other volunteers, and parents, didn’t seem to know that they were youth pastors.

Somehow, three local youth pastors managed to infiltrate the schools volunteer program, without anyone knowing who they were? And this has gone on for eight years? Till one day a student tells a parent, because it seems “creepy” that church people work as volunteers.

The investigation is now ongoing to determine whether God, Jesus or anything religious-based, was ever spoken during school hours, on school property, with any student. The perceived motive of these volunteers is to recruit the youth of our schools to start going to church and all that kind of stuff.

These youth pastors have a passion for what they do. They are trained in dealing with the pitfalls of growing up on this rock. On being a kid trying to find out who they are. The kids who drive newer cars than the teachers. The kids that take the bus. The kids who are the most popular, and the wallflowers. The kids who come from broken homes with one parent, and those that come from broken homes with both parents. The kids that have everything but feel they have nothing but misery. The bullies and the victims. They work very hard on establishing a trust and friendship with our kids. Yes, right here, in the land of milk and honey.

The stats are written everywhere. All of us who have, and have had, children know they do not always listen to us. But great success is found by outside mentors, coaches, camp leaders, teachers, neighbor parents, and yes, even youth pastors.

Several speakers kept repeating that this was not about religion, but about volunteers who do not have children going to the school they are working at. I mean, why on earth would you do that?

What is really interesting is that none of these people have even spoken to Danny Smith, one of the youth pastors, about any concern, or issue regarding this. His agenda, motive, nothing. Not a word. An almost overflow room of people, along with the KOMO news camera man, and nobody even talked to the accused before a private investigation was initiated.

Nothing like a good witch hunt before Halloween. I wonder if in the future all volunteers will have to be atheists? Just to be on the safe side.

MIKE ANDERSON

Bainbridge Island