TV ads dictate shopping choices, not behavior
Re: “Does TV affect behavior?” Jan. 27 Open Forum.
John P. Cardie’s letter offers a poor argument, an apples-to-oranges comparison, between Super Bowl TV commercials and “violent movies with profane language.”
Cardie claims advertisers will spend millions on Super Bowl commercials because they believe “what people observe on TV will affect their behavior.” Then he says that Hollywood film producers have sworn to Congress that their movies do not affect behavior, and that both premises can’t be correct.
Here is the flaw in this argument: TV commercials do not affect behavior; they affect which brand consumers select at the store. This isn’t a “behavior,” it’s a shopping choice. People don’t decide to drink beer because of those clever Bud Light commercials. They’re already drinking the stuff and decide to try Bud for a change. My decision to try a brand of Product A that I’ve never tried before is not “behavior.” It’s shopping.
As for whether or not violent films make people violent, I always thought that violence in the home was what created criminal behavior. Don’t tell me that films and rap videos have more of a negative influence on kids than their alcoholic or drug-using parents who communicate with fists rather than with brains.
Kourttni Lance, Golden
Survey of schools on value of No Child law
Re: “Educators assail No Child Left Behind,” Jan. 23 news story.
The headline on your story spoke volumes. Your subheadline, “Almost all in a poll sent out by Sen. Ken Salazar say the federal law’s goals are not achievable,” spoke mega-volumes. And the article’s statement that “Almost all of those who responded to the survey – sent to all Colorado school districts as well as a handful of parent advocacy organizations and administrators – said the law’s goal of all students reaching 100 percent proficiency by the 2013-14 school year was not achievable,” was a very, very loud concession speech.
Colorado teachers, principals and administrators overwhelmingly said, in this survey, that they could not bring all students up to proficient levels within the next seven years unless – big surprise – they get more money. Aren’t these the same people who are attempting to eviscerate charters and online schools, some of which are already at 100 percent proficiency?
Colorado Education Association spokeswoman Deborah Fallin said that the union “supports accountability” but “the pendulum has swung too far.” Excuse me, but expecting that all of our kids can read, write and subtract just at grade level is not going far enough.
If the 1,700-plus teachers and principals who responded to the survey cannot get the job done, then let the kids who are expecting and are entitled to a quality education go. Their (and our) futures are too important to leave in the hands of people who have already told us they cannot do the job.
Steve Schuck, Colorado Springs
…
“Unrealistic.” “Not achievable.” These were words once used to label the academic prospects of disadvantaged and minority children. Now, according to a recent survey conducted by Sen. Ken Salazar, they’re being used to describe the goals of the No Child Left Behind act.
It’s time to bust this myth. No Child Left Behind calls on students to read and do math at grade level or better by 2014. It holds schools accountable for steady progress each year until they do. As a mom, I don’t think that’s too much to ask. I believe most parents, whose views were severely underrepresented in the survey, would agree. They want their children to be taught to grade level now.
In 2005-06, 91 percent of Colorado’s school districts met at least 90 percent of their adequate yearly progress goals as called for by NCLB – slightly better than in 2004-05. Nationally, math scores for young students have reached new heights, according to the Nation’s Report Card, while achievement gaps in reading and math between African-American and Hispanic students and their white peers have fallen to all-time lows. This tells me progress is both realistic and achievable.
Of course, it will take time and hard work to achieve our goals. We are committed to working with our dedicated teachers and principals to make it happen. That is why President Bush has proposed the use of growth models to track student progress over time and offered new flexibility and resources for teachers and students in rural school districts.
Margaret Spellings, U.S. Secretary of Education, Washington D.C.
In defense of retaining Columbus Day
Re: “What Columbus Day backers have wrought,” Jan. 26 Open Forum.
We take great offense at letter- writer Joe Aiello’s unfounded assertions as well as his pre-conclusions concerning Julia Martinez’s Jan. 22 column “A new name for Columbus Day?”
Mr. Aiello was not present during the years of “negotiations” that have spanned almost 20 years; therefore, how can he assume what transpired during those meetings? Having not been there, he has no awareness of the impossible demands of the parade opponents.
We, the parade supporters, have not contributed to the eventual loss of the holiday across the country. To appease the protesters in their “demand” of a name change would have contributed to the dominoes tumbling toward the eventual fall of more First Amendment rights for all Americans.
John Callor, Vice President, Columbus Day Parade Committee, Longmont
Hillary’s candidacy
As a registered Democrat who usually votes for the candidate rather than the party, I cannot support Hillary Clinton for president of the United States. I do not think she has demonstrated the integrity I find necessary to lead this country. She was involved with her husband in the Whitewater debacle. And, after the Monica Lewinsky incident, she wasn’t “standing by her man” so much as she was measuring her own political future. I am a pro-choice feminist, but that does not automatically translate into a vote for Hillary.
Raye Highland, Castle Rock
Necessity of recess
Re: “Recess takes a break as lessons lengthen,” Jan. 22 news story.
As a pediatrician and mother of three sons, I support the parents of Greeley elementary students who are advocating for daily recess. Physical activity improves mood and strength, and positively impacts cognition. Physical activity also decreases stress, blood pressure, prevalence of obesity, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, stroke and certain cancers. Children benefit from time to exercise and socialize.
I have practiced medicine for more than 20 years and have witnessed an increase in overweight, inactive and stressed children. Most children in the state of Colorado do not have daily physical education, and nationally, less than 20 percent of children walk or bike to school. If we want our children to thrive and succeed, we must support their physical, cognitive and emotional development.
Sandra Hoyt Stenmark, M.D., Denver
Family kicked off plane
Re: “Airline says family’s ouster was proper,” Jan. 24 news story.
I read with disbelief the story of the couple who were angry after being removed from a flight because their unruly 3-year-old wouldn’t sit in her chair, thereby holding up 112 well-behaved passengers from leaving Florida on time. What I learned was that kicking, screaming, climbing under the seats and generally disobeying FAA rules will result in my trip being reimbursed, getting an additional round-trip ticket to anywhere I’d like and get me a write- up in newspapers across the country! Sign me up!
Emily Frazee, Colorado Springs
To send a letter
E-mail: openforum@denverpost.com (only straight text, not attachments)
Mail: The Open Forum, The Denver Post, 101 W. Colfax Ave., Suite 600, Denver, 80202
Fax: 303-954-1502
Guidelines: The Post welcomes letters up to 200 words on topics of general interest. Letters must include full name, home address and day and evening phone numbers. Letters may be edited for length, grammar and accuracy.
To reach us by phone: 303-954-1331
