Reforming public education in Colorado
Re: “Education reform critical,” May 18 guest commentary.
So Republican legislators Josh Penry and Rob Witwer believe education reform is critical. They’re right, but they have word noise instead of history.
Reform has been critical for 20 years; it was once tried locally in Littleton but killed by a right-wing scare campaign. But locally was correct then and it’s right today.
Penry and Witwer want to command reform, dictate it from above, the way the education complex always does. Unfortunately, legislators and the complex together have failed to bring about constructive change in schools for more than 40 years.
They seem not to realize our schools are in daily competition with what amounts to a totalitarian corporate/consumer culture. Parents and teachers realize it, however, and can respond.
Reform will occur when the legislature enables some local school communities to make their high schools inclusive, effective and competitive. By freeing high schools (like charter schools) to redesign themselves, Penry, Witwer and other legislators might be able to encourage real reforms rather than fail once again by commanding paper ones.
Daniel W. Brickley, Littleton
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Opponents of Senate Bill 131, imposing high school graduation requirements in math and science, argued not that the bill was too far-reaching, but that it wasn’t far-reaching enough. American students lag behind their international counterparts after the fourth grade, suggesting we must address math and science readiness well before high school. Absent investment in qualified teachers and facilities, schools lack the capacity to meet rigorous graduation requirements, rendering SB 131 ineffective at best. Most importantly, a focus on math and science alone threatens to expend those students whose talents lie in other areas and to further squeeze social studies, the humanities and the arts out of the curriculum, depriving our students of a complete, quality education.
The debate around SB 131 actually revealed bipartisan support for comprehensive education reform, which is encouraging. At hand is debate about how to get there. The Governor’s P20 Council will take up the challenge of examining Colorado’s education system from preschool through higher education, and certainly a thorough discussion of high school graduation requirements must be a component of that critical analysis.
Kathryn Hill, Denver
Reasons Wal-Mart profits may be down
Re: “Wal-Mart CEO warns profit may miss target,” May 16 business news story.
So Wal-Mart’s profits aren’t where CEO Lee Scott believes they should be. The retail analysts and Wal-Mart executives are desperately trying to figure out why on earth they could be losing ground. Could it be high gas prices? Lack of trendy fashion lines? Maybe it’s some of those things. But they’ve also lost profit because of who they are as a company.
This is a company that completely disregards workers’ rights at the cost of taxpayers. This is a company that oftentimes forces itself into communities that don’t want it there.
People are beginning to realize these things, and they’re taking a stand. I haven’t shopped at Wal- Mart for years now, and it isn’t because they don’t have the latest style of jeans. It’s because it is against my own personal code of ethics to support such an irresponsible and destructive company.
Emily Frazee, Colorado Springs
Linking killers, extremists with religion
Letter-writer Jerry Goad (May 17 Open Forum) believes The Post should have declared “anti-abortion extremist” Eric Rudolph to be a “Christian terrorist.” In doing so, he paints all Christians with a wide brush colored blood red. If so, would he then be willing to declare the Columbine killers, who targeted children of faith, as “atheistic terrorists” or “secular terrorists”? This type of stone throwing, name calling and faith bating is useless in debating the issues, and perhaps more dangerous to Mr. Goad’s position than he realizes. After all, history tells us that the 20th century is notable for the greatest number of persecutions, holocausts, genocides and terrorism ever perpetrated. And with few exceptions, they were done by atheists who had reached pinnacles of earthly power and, having shunned belief in God, they had no fear that they would ever have to be accountable to a higher power for their sins.
E. Douglas Miller, Centennial
Where will movie rating crusade lead?
Recently, some people have started a campaign to give movies with people smoking an “R” rating.
While we can all appreciate the puritanical instinct to inflict good upon the undeserving masses, a body can only wonder why these people have such a brief agenda.
Many things about movies, besides bad acting and bad scripts, could fit neatly into their plan, such as consumption of alcoholic beverages, the use of illegal drugs, unbridled and unprotected sexual activities, saying anything nice about President Bush, having people shot by a gun, and driving an SUV over the speed limit.
After these laws or rules are enacted, we shall all be able to live in a puritanical, legislated and policed Eden.
Cecil E. Bethea, Denver
Earnings and yearnings
In 1953, I was sitting in my father’s Chevy at a gas station while the attendant was filling it up with fuel. A man pulled up at another pump in his brand new Cadillac and told the attendant to “put $2 in it.”
My dad turned to me and said, “If you can’t afford to fill it up, you’re driving the wrong car.
Fifty-four years later, this counsel of “keep your yearnings below your earnings” is still wise advice.
John P. Cardie, Westminster
Learning life’s lessons
Spring has sprung and the Denver denizens are out properly training their offspring to be aware and safe in this busy world. The dogs are being properly trained to stop, sit and listen at all street crossings. It will probably stay with them for life. The children are getting the advantage of the wisdom of their parents. They are taught that the rules of the road do not apply if you are on bike. You can ride through crosswalks, stop signs and red lights, and passing on the right is no problem. When approaching a crosswalk on foot, speed up – don’t stop, look and listen. If you get clipped, the saying is “Sue them.” It will probably stay with them for life. When they get behind the wheel of a 4,000-pound automobile, nothing will change. I would bet on the longevity of the animal kingdom.
Jim Reid, Denver
Colfax Marathon noise
On Sunday, I was rocked out of quiet morning peace by loudspeakers more befitting a Red Rocks concert than a quiet neighborhood just off of Colfax. I am protesting the volume of your noise at 7 a.m. The heavy volume of traffic and the speeds at which they travel down 14th Avenue, as their only route of escaping the Colfax closure, have raised my impatience to an indescribable level. All who wish to play this marathon game are only a minority to those who wish it would not invade our lives. I will tolerate the traffic you create, yet the speeds need to be controlled. A marathon does not need a concert beginning at 7 a.m., and I have no desire to be included in your rock and roll party.
Y. Hinton, Lakewood
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