Dear Editor:

For the past several years our family has gone to

Brady Lake for the Fourth of July to camp, go

fishing, swimming and boating. We have seen the

condition of the lake and the camping facilities

deteriorate before our eyes. We did not think it was

possible for it to get any worse, but it has.

We are aware of the high winds and storms that

have hit our area recently, but that is no excuse for

the conditions we found at Brady Lake. We heard

comments from other campers—many from out of

town-—about how disappointed they were in the

run-down conditions of the facilities at the lake.

Maybe this is why we see very few boaters on the

lake.

There is only one very narrow and unsafe boat dock

with many boards missing. The other option is to

wade waist deep in weeds and trip over large rocks

and then try to jump onto your boat.

The marina is in horrible condition and needs to be

condemned, demolished and a new one built.

Years ago, many people used the marina to fish,

especially with their kids. The rest rooms and

showers are usually broken, unsanitary and not

stocked with supplies.

Adding new rest rooms and renovating the existing

ones would be a huge improvement.

The swimming area has been in terrible condition

for many, many years. The beach area is littered

with broken glass, rusty cans, trash and many grass

burrs.

The water is full of weeds, rocks and who knows

what else, which makes it scary to small children.

There is a lot of discarded sand at the sand plants

that probably could be brought in for very little cost

to rebuild the beach area.

Many of the private property lake front lots have

abandoned, trashed boat docks and debris covering

them. It is really an eyesore and provides an

undesirable view from the water.

Why not enforce the property restrictions, which are

surely already in place for the property owners at

Brady Lake? If there are no property restrictions, we

need to pass some immediately.

With the lake level low recently, it would be a

perfect time to do the rebuilding and clean up that

the lake desperately needs. Except for a little paint,

what has been done to improve the lake and its

facilities since it was built in the late 1960s?

Of course, it is the responsibility of everyone who

uses the lake to help clean and maintain the

grounds and facilities. Everyone should pick up

their trash and make sure the area they use is clean

before they leave. Unfortunately, this is rarely the

case; many people show little or no regard for the

privilege of using the lake and its facilities. That is

why it is important to have enforcement of local

laws to keep the area safe and clean.

We enjoy going to Brady Lake and it has become a

family tradition. It is convenient and close to home.

With gas prices getting higher and higher, more

local people might consider going to the lake if it

was a pleasant experience.

We think most visitors to the lake would be willing

to pay a small fee, if it would mean that the lake

would be kept lean and have a nice camping area.

With the push to clean up Brady, why don't we

include Brady Lake? Brady Lake has lots of potential

for the City of Brady and the surrounding area, why

aren't we taking advantage of it?

Sincerely,

Debbie Johnson

Patty Smith

SA Thurmon

Somewhere out there is the mind that will produce

the next great American novel. If, however, that

would-be author is under the age of 18, the words

he or she writes may be more of “SOZ” and

“TGGTG” than beautiful, flowing prose.

“We have a whole generation being raised without

communication skills,” says Jacquie Ream, former

teacher and author of “K.I.S.S. Keep It Short and

Simple” (Book Publishers Network).   She contends

text messaging and the internet are destroying the

way our kids read, think and write.

A recent National Center for Education Statistics

study reports only one out of four high school

seniors is a proficient writer. A College Board

survey of the nation’s blue-chip companies found

only two thirds of employees are capable writers. 

“These kids aren’t learning to spell.  They’re

learning acronyms and short hand,” says Ream.

“Text messaging is destroying the written word.

The students aren’t writing letters, they’re typing

into their cell phones one line at a time.  Feelings

aren’t communicated with words when you’re

texting; emotions are sideways smiley faces. Kids

are typing shorthand jargon that isn’t even a

complete thought.”

Reading may not be the problem. Neilsen/

NetRatings reports the average 12 to 17-year-old

visits more than 1,400 web pages a month.  Ask

that average teenager what they read and they may

be able to tell you. Ask the average teenager what

their opinion is on that blog or article and you may

find them fumbling for thoughts that are their own. 

“Critical thinking skills are not taught

today. Teachers are forced to use what little

classroom time they have to teach to the

standardized tests. 

The kids learn how to regurgitate information to

parrot it back for the correct answer, but they can’t

process the thought and build on it.”

School system money is often tied into the

standardized testing results. Many teachers

complain of being pressured to spend so much

time teaching to the test that they don’t have the

time to guide the children into true, thought

provoking learning.

“There’s a whole generation that can’t come up

with new ideas,” says Ream. “And even if they did

have a breakthrough thought or opinion of their

own, they couldn’t share it with the rest of us.”

This generation, however, isn’t a complete ‘write

off.’  Ream says the parents can make a big

difference in the way their children communicate.

She suggests reading the same book your teenager

is reading—then trying to open a dinner table

conversation about the plot of that novel.

Ream says writing is a skill that can be learned. Her

book “K.I.S.S. Keep It Short and Simple” lays out a

formula she says makes writing easier: teach your

kids to organize their thoughts on paper; compare

the subject with others to show how the ideas are

similar; contrast the subject with others to show

how the concept is different and interrelate—write

the essay to show how the subject relates to the

reader.

Every generation has great minds with great

thoughts that can guide the rest of us. If teenagers

aren’t taught to groom their opinions and ideas so

that they can write effectively, society will lose out

on a generation of creativity. 

“If we let these kids get caught up in technology, if

we let politicians get caught up in testing, it’s

America as a whole that loses out on great words,

thoughts and novels that will never be written.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: The above article was provided by

Jacquie Ream, who has been a teacher, workshop

director, daycare owner and is now the author of

“K.I.S.S. Keep It Short and Simple.” She has devoted

her life to guiding others how to clearly and

concisely share their thoughts and ideas on paper.

She has a BA in English and a Masters in Creative

Writing from the University of Washington.

www.reamink.com

CALENDAR
July, 2008