Don Schneider (Gazette, Oct. 28) says that Matt Diederichs should leave his personal beliefs at home and allow students to form their own political opinions based on a balanced view and rigorous debate of all the facts. I agree wholeheartedly. I do have to wonder if Mr. Schneider actually read MP Michael Cooper's mailout. It was nothing but a push poll, pure and simple. Mr. Schneider rightly takes issue with Mr. Diederichs' statement that it was the Harper government that did not provide Omar Khadr his rights. Mr. Khadr's rights under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms were initially violated by the Chretien government when they caved to post 9/11 public and U.S. pressure. But it was the Harper government that continually ignored the Supreme Court of Canada's rulings that Omar Khadr's rights had been violated as well as persistently demonizing him for political gain. Mr. Cooper and his Conservative colleagues continue to do so. I think rather than indoctrinating his students, Mr. Diederichs is presenting a balanced view by allowing his students to read the mailout and then clearing up the misinformation within it as well as showing them how its language is manipulative. I think that he is using the mailout to teach his students a valuable lesson in critical thinking. The ability to think critically will help his students come to an informed political opinion not only in this matter but in future ones. Just because a member of parliament tells us something, it doesn't make it true. Maggie Clayton, St. Albert
