Editor,

I am writing in support of the new environmental and ethnic studies classes to be offered at South Whidbey High School. I am a retired nurse originally from rural Eastern Oregon, attending a small school there with a graduating class of 1960.

We did not have the advantage of such classes then. It was not until decades later that I began deepening my cultural awareness.

Over time I gained more insight to culture diversity through volunteer medical trips I did to different parts of the world, as well as through various experiences in my routine nursing work. The cultural awareness greatly enriched my life and strengthened my ability to see varied points of view. I wish I had started developing this awareness at a younger age.

The classes such as those at South Whidbey High School will be offering would have helped. My community then was predominantly white, made up of wheat farmers and cattle ranchers and affiliated services. Diversifying my cultural awareness in high school through such classes would have been especially valuable.

Some topics can be difficult to discuss. In reality, I find that many issues of importance to our civilization are difficult to discuss. What better thing to model, teach and experience in our high school than civilized discussion of difficult topics.

Donald J Miller

Clinton