Editor:

For a long time, I've wanted to respond to Mr. John Baumgardner's letters, but I wasn't quite sure how to argue with him. His letter from 2/18/97 has prompted me to write anyway.

In this letter, a lie states that teachers are attempting to instill beliefs in students that there is no morality, God, soul, etc. I've never been in a class that Mr. Rick Thalman has taught, but my friends who are in his classes tell me that he is an intelligent and open-minded educator.

I just finished a religion/philosophy unit in my English class, and all major religions and philosophies (including Kant's) were presented. The key word is "presented." In no way was one taught as right or wrong,

Most of us can make up our minds as to which one is right for us. We leave the forced religion to the John Baumgardners of the world. To say that Mr. Thalman and other educators are "diabolical" and bent on destroying our morality is absurd.

At the end of his letter, Mr. Baumgardner asks why the rest of the public doesn't cry out about these Satanic teachers as much as he does. Well. John, I think you cry out louder than 10 semifanatical people could if they screamed their lungs out. Does anybody else even need to say anything? Seriously, there are a lot of religious people in this community, but most of them don't feel the need to agitate the public like you do. They can have their faith but still recognize the validity of science, schooling, and outside opinion. So, why don't you take a break from criticizing the rest of us and take comfort in the knowledge that you have a slot reserved in heaven, while the evil teachers, nonbelievers, and insolent children like myself will be roasted to a crispy brown in the deepest pits of hell.

Eric Wally Walstrom