Web-only letters to the editor, Dec. 18, 2012


Improving schools

Your headline this Wednesday, “School-grading system incomplete,” is all too true.  However, it will never be complete until amateurs and the seriously uninformed continue leading our nation’s school improvement efforts.

After a career of studying, contemplating, and writing about the fundamental purpose of education, it is now clear to me that it is essentially as follows: “Engendering increasingly enthusiast learners who continuously seek and achieve the skills necessary to advance their learning, satisfy their natural curiosities, and become contributing citizens.”

Apparently too few leaders in education understand this purpose, and virtually no political or business leaders of any ideology.

What accepting such a purpose requires is a system of progress measurement that includes assessing the degree to which student joy in learning is preserved and nurtured.  This will require both timely and longitudinal assessment, which is lacking almost entirely in our current system – nor is it even discussed.

Only when such a purpose is adopted and regularly assessed will we make significant progress.  And if we effectively pursue such a purpose, all other aims such as acquiring basic skills, reaching advanced education readiness, being employable, or achieving civic understanding and participation will be achieved as well.

Bob Barkley, Worthington

Gun ownership

I want to say my prayer goes out to the families of the victims of this horrifying crime that was committed. As I was watching the news and reading the newspaper the first thing that is mentioned is that our country needs to have more gun laws, some has said our nation should not have guns at all.

I don’t believe our country should do away with guns. I support the right to bear arms; with out that our country would be in a lot worst shape it is in. I believe that we need to take a look into the laws about discipline in our homes and schools and I am not talking about time out.

Years ago you didn’t hear about this, and since the parents and schools cannot discipline children this is were the problem arises. The children now think they are untouchable because parents and schools cannot touch a child or the adults will get arrested and young children use it to their advantage

I think if we bring back the old fashion way of discipline in are homes and classrooms, and I don’t mean a time out things might be a different. The young kids in this country has no morels or respect for their parents,teachers and adults and kids can run over adults, if you look at the ages of the resent shooters they are in their 20s and maybe the parents could not do any type of good old fashion discipline because are laws says we cant touch a kid.

Its seems like we can blame all the shootings that has happen in the past on guns, we need to look at the big picture removing guns from are country is no the answer this will not solve the problem; we need to bring back the morels standards in this county instead of taking them away lets get back to basics.

Diane Huston, Grove City

Gun laws

I have a hard time understanding our Ohio legislator's pre-occupation with guns.  Under the guise of protecting 2nd Amendment rights they have wasted countless hours assuring that bar patrons and those parking in the State House garage can have their guns at their fingertips.  Perhaps they feel an obligation to the gun lobby contributors to their reelection campaigns.  I would much prefer their focus was on putting a book in the hands of a child, medicine in the hands of the sick and a meal in the hands of the hungry.

Richard Porter, Hilliard

Gun ownership

I cannot help but be struck by the sad irony of last Friday's and Saturday's Columbus Dispatch headlines ("Senate votes to loosen gun limits"/"This time, children"). What the events of last Friday have done is to remind us of the the terrible burden that comes with the right to bare arms. And if it is not a burden too great to bear, it is something very much like it.

Kenneth M. Keisel, Columbus

Abortion issue

In Sunday’s Letters (Dec. 16) A writer writes “If you don’t agree with abortion, don’t have one.  ... If you believe marriage is between one woman and one man, then don’t marry someone of the same sex.  Don’t make your religious beliefs my public policy.”

The trouble with that statement of policy is that (a) it is anti-democratic and (b) it doesn’t really make any sense.  All religions at some point say something about public policy.  Does that mean that such policy is a matter of religion and therefore non-practitioners of that religion should be exempt from those policies?  The Ten Commandments are found in the Bible.  Does that mean that “Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal are policies that should not apply to the non-religious?  Obviously not.  A civilized society needs laws, and every individual has a perfect right to consult his own religion about what those laws should be.

Christianity in fact says nothing about same-sex marriage because when the Bible was written. Same-sex marriage was simply unthinkable.  And in fact it was unthinkable in all cultures and all religions until just a few years ago.  One has a right to ask: Just because a certain segment of the population suddenly favors it, does that make it good policy?  Have we seriously considered whether there is wisdom in the policy of all cultures in the world against same-sex marriage?

The same is true of the policy for or against abortion.  The Roman Catholic Church and the Evangelicals seem to be very odd bedfellows on the issue, but for entirely different reasons. The Roman Catholic hierarchy appeals to Natural Law, which non-Catholic theologians do not believe in.  But the Evangelicals have been the churches of the lower class, and they have opposed abortion out of pure self-interest.  If the intelligencia can redefine the unborn as non-human just because they are inconvenient, can they not redefine the disabled, the mentally challenged, and simply the poor to be non-human simply because they are inconvenient?  After all, that is what the Nazis did.

Deciding what is religious policy and therefore not applicable to the non-religions and what is of universal application would have to be done by some non-elected body assigned by (whom?) to make such distinctions.  Some people believe we have such a body in the Supreme Court, who are, after all, products of a small handful of elite universities highly endowed by the very rich to ensure that their children do not have to rub shoulders with any but the most select of the hoi polloi.

Frankly I prefer to be ruled democratically by the people--all the people, rich and poor, and of every religious persuasion appropriate to their numbers.

Richard Davis, Marietta

Abortion issue

It has happened again and it will continue to happen: the killing of our innocent children in our schools, this time in Newtown, Connecticut.  We all keep asking the question: Why?  But no one has an answer.  We instinctively recognize these killilngs as something gone drastically wrong.  Even President Obama said, "These tragedies must end."  And the News Media called it "A horrific massacre."

Deep in our hearts we feel sadness, sorrow and grief for the children and their families.  We want to reach out to help in some way.

In our minds we think of these acts of killing innocents as atrocious, heinous, abominable, despicable and evil.  Our compassion leads us to want to reach out and do something to help.

What is the difference between killing our innocent school children and killing our innocent children in the womb?  Has not something gone drastically wrong?

Bob Franz Jr., New Albany

Gun laws

Is it just me that sees the irony of two mass shootings the same week our Ohio legislature rushed through a bill relaxing gun controls? Did Christmas come early from the NRA?

Jill Levy, Westerville

Gun legislation

Friday's headline:  Senate votes to loosen gun limits.  Saturday's headline:  This time, children.  Am I the only one who sees a connection?

Joseph R. Weaver, Bexley

Christmas displays

I had to respond to Pete Mills letter "Donations beat gaudy Christmas displays"...maybe...but I enjoy such displays (and I happen to give donations as well).  I also know people who put up such displays - and they also give donations...so let's not presuppose to know what goes on behind those Christmas displays!

Ann MacDonald, Dublin

Blame the GOP

I had the privilege today of participating in a Community Leaders conference call with President Barack Obama, to discuss the “fiscal cliff”.  It was an excellent opportunity to listen to the President’s perspective and get a closer look at the ramifications for middle class families and small businesses.
 I was included in this conversation, at the invitation of Mayor Michael B. Colman, because I am a small business owner and because my family is primarily middle class.  I am also a community organizer, an educator, a parent of a college student, and serve as Mayor Coleman’s liaison to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community.

Republican representatives are holding the middle class hostage.  Their refusal to compromise on tax cuts jeopardizes 98% of U.S. families and 97% of small businesses.  The House’s failure to act by the end of the year could result in middle class families facing an added tax burden of $2000 next year.   If the President’s plan is accepted, families who make less than $250,000 per year will experience no change in their taxes.  Under the proposal, every taxpayer will have the same tax rate for the first $250,000 of their income; only the income over $250,000 will be subject to a tax increase.

The President believes that a comprehensive package of responsible spending cuts and tax relief are within reach.  He believes that with the 114th Congress in place, an agreement can be reached in the first half of the year.  Both Republicans and Democrats are in agreement that failure to maintain these tax rates for middle income families is bad for the economy and bad for the country.  Why then, can’t they act now on that vital component of the solution?  The Senate has already passed this bill, and the President stands ready to sign.

Visit www.whitehouse.gov for more information and details about the President’s plan.   The President is collecting stories about what $2000 means to your family.  You can share your story by visiting WH.gov/My2K, or help keep the conversation going online on Facebook and Twitter using the hashtag #My2K.
The House needs to be held accountable.  I encourage each of you to contact your Representative, write a letter, send an email, or make a phone call. Ask them to put partisanship aside and do what is right for their constituents and for the country.  Demand that they represent you – represent us!

Chris Cozad, Columbus