Recruit smaller airlines to town
Re "Airport to talk to United on nonstops" (Oct. 21): Please stop trying to lure the likes of American, Delta and United to expand; the airfare still is too much. How about JetBlue or Southwest for more competitive airfares out of Chattanooga? Plus, Southwest does not charge $25 for a checked bag like the bigger airlines. Do not get the wrong idea that I despise Delta as it has been my favorite airline, but its fare price changes day to day, and it outrages me to pay more when the price goes lower the next day or so. To obtain the lower price, you have to pay a fee. That is ridiculous! For that reason, Delta has lost my respect. Also, on fares to certain points in the West such as Burbank or Ontario, Calif., or Las Vegas, Delta's airfare tends to be too much. You can get far lower fares with Southwest. Please add Southwest Airlines into Chattanooga and cut the need for the time-consuming shuttle to Atlanta to fly out of there. And Southwest does fly to the West, Mexico and the Caribbean areas as the bigger airlines.
JOHN JOHNSON, Hixson
Super-sized schools don't meet needs
A recent Times Free Press report states that the Hamilton County Department of Education is considering building a super elementary school on the North River YMCA and adjacent Dupont Elementary School properties. Just about all educational research I can find points to this being a poor move if student achievement and behaviors are considered. Cotton and Klonsky did a research brief in 2006 of 143 different elementary school studies and found the following: School size: Most effective is 300-400 students (HCDE super school will have 1,100+ students); Achievement: At least equal and often better than large schools; Low-income students: Achievement is much better in small schools with disadvantaged students; Parents: Small schools have a higher rate of parental involvement; Other: Teacher morale, communication, and administration relationships were better at small schools. As a classroom teacher for 40-plus years, I know research can be conducted so that conclusions can be manipulated. This is 143 different pieces of research. I hope parents of Rivermont, Dupont and Alpine Crest elementary schools will convince administrators not to build a super blunder.
JIM WATSON, Hixson
Watch out for expired lottery games
I bought 10 Junior Jumbo lottery tickets at the East Ridge Bi-Lo a few weeks ago. I had three winners; one a small jumbo. When I went to cash them I got a surprise as the lottery would not pay off, saying the tickets were out of date and the game was closed. Someone didn't do their job of picking up old lottery tickets. Bi-Lo, not knowing, sold out-of-date tickets. So the next time you have a big winner, don't be surprised if you can't collect. I now wonder what would have happened if those tickets were big winners. Can't trust anyone nowadays.
ROY DAVENPORT, East Ridge