The economics of immigration policy
Re: “Immigration economics vs. emotion,” Dec. 14 Jim Spencer column.
Columnist Jim Spencer opines that we ought to focus on what he calls “what matters” when we talk about illegal immigration: “Economics, not emotions.” Why on economics? Well, were illegal immigration to be controlled, as it should be, poor Spencer might have to pay more for a head of lettuce. And maybe for a nanny. Or even a new house. Obviously, Spencer has given no thought to the incalculable costs of illegal immigration to his children – costs which will grow tragically with every passing month that we do not secure our borders.
As for current costs, Spencer dismisses the “alleged drain on public education,” calling it a myth. The drain on the quality of education that millions of non-English-speaking children of illegals impose on public education is an indisputable fact, not a myth. Teachers are forced to lower their expectations to accommodate the non-English-competent students, thus shortchanging English-speaking students in the class.
The future of America, including our national unity, our standard of living and our rule of law, are at stake.
Charles L. King, Boulder
Students’ lack of preparedness for college
Re: “‘Remedial’ joins three R’s,” Dec. 14 news story.
I teach remedial math at two local community colleges and I see firsthand the lack of academic skills of incoming freshmen. Certainly, the lack of mandated high school graduation requirements in the state of Colorado is ridiculous and needs to be addressed. With high school districts doing their own thing, it’s no wonder that students graduate from high schools not knowing the basics.
One big problem I see is that students are regularly passed along from year to year even though they have not sufficiently learned the necessary academic skills. A few years ago, I was a long-term substitute for a math teacher at a Denver high school. I had students in algebra, geometry and advanced algebra who could not do basic arithmetic, much less algebra and geometry. The reason these students could not perform basic skills was that they were being passed along by teachers who just wanted to get these students moving toward graduation. And there was pressure on me from guidance counselors and the administration to pass people who did not have the necessary math skills. It was pretty appalling.
Our schools and the state of Colorado must take much of the blame for graduating students who are not able to perform at the college level. Until the state holds school districts accountable to uphold mandated academic standards, we will not see a change at the community college level.
Jim Ciha, Aurora
…
I read with interest The Post’s article on students needing remediation in college. I find the information somewhat contradictory, given the fact that a greater number of Colorado’s public schools have moved into the high or excellent category on the state School Accountability Reports. It looks like, despite the rhetoric, Colorado’s public schools are improving. Perhaps part of the problem is that colleges are so eager for tuition dollars that they are admitting students who normally wouldn’t meet their entrance criteria.
This data was also released in an effort to garner support for the Colorado Commission on Higher Education’s plan to require all high school students to take four years of advanced math to enter a college or university. It’s as if being able to do trigonometry or calculus is an important skill for an artist, poet or social studies teacher to possess.
The math requirement fails to recognize the many unique talents that our children possess. It is out of touch with common sense, and I thought that CCHE commissioner Rick O’Donnell would have learned a lesson when control of the House and Senate went to the Democrats and Referendum C passed as well. Colorado citizens want common-sense policies, and CCHE under O’Donnell’s leadership has become an “elitist” institution completely out of touch with the “common man.”
Gerald Keefe, Superintendent, Kit Carson R-1 School District
Defining treason in the United States
Re: “American lawyer’s defense of Hussein,” Dec. 15 Open Forum.
Letter-writer Ralph Givens asks why Ramsey Clark, the former U.S. attorney general helping defend Saddam Hussein, has not been indicted for treason. He cherry-picks the Constitution and the U.S. Code to define treason as “giving aid and comfort” to the enemies of the United States.
As public figures of both parties routinely use this logic to smear their opponents, Givens’ question is understandable.
The complete constitutional definition of treason is: “Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort.”
Ramsey Clark has not committed treason because he has not adhered to our enemies. The Constitution requires both this and giving aid and comfort to meet the test of treason. The U.S. Supreme Court affirmed this in 1945 when it wrote in its opinion for Cramer vs. United States, “Thus the crime of treason consists of two elements: adherence to the enemy; and rendering him aid and comfort.”
The framers of the Constitution were meticulously careful with their language when they wrote it. Unfortunately, we aren’t as diligent when we read it.
J.A. Loyall, Colorado Springs
Federal tax reform
How can Congress justify taking time to approve themselves a large pay increase, take two months off during the last five, yet claim they don’t have enough time to address the alternative minimum tax (AMT), the most heinous tax ever passed, before they adjourn to take more time off?
The AMT is imposed on tens of millions of American taxpayers at lower income levels every year, requiring paying accountants because it is so complex and convoluted. It should be the tax priority of every congressperson.
Our representatives need to be reminded that they are elected to do the people’s business, not to pontificate on national TV, raise money and campaign for re-election. They are highly paid, have unbelievable retirement and health benefits, staffing budgets higher than the income of many small businesses, and perks the average American can’t even imagine, all at taxpayer expense.
Peter and Joyce Wood, Colorado Springs
The teenage brain
Re: “Brain’s dramatic rewiring may shape teen behavior,” Dec. 19 Scene story.
The profound changes that occur in the brains of young adults have implications that go far beyond mental illnesses such as schizophrenia or the familiar teenage angst. It throws into serious question the morality of military recruiters targeting 17- and 18- year-olds, a population far more unstable and vulnerable than previously thought. Consideration needs to be given to once again raising both the voting age and the age of eligibility for military service to 21.
Kenneth R. Morgareidge, Denver
Vocational education
I have previously commended the Denver School Board for its decision to hire Michael Bennet. But there is one area I believe the board and Bennet have ignored: vocational education. If DPS would convert three current academic high schools (West, Lincoln and South) into vocational schools focusing on health care, construction and automotive careers, which are in demand, it is my belief that not only would the Hispanic dropout rate be eliminated, so would the budgetary shortfall based upon current per pupil retention reimbursement amounts, and we would create very productive citizens.
Steve Lustig, Greenwood Village
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