How can wetlands destruction be 'progress'?
Last week, a beautiful wetland in our neighborhood was, by city "code," demolished, leaving frogs hanging from trees to die, gorgeous cattails lifeless on the ground and a gaping mud hole, where once was pristine beauty. It was said that this was "progress," benefiting the community by stamping out mosquitoes and bettering the environment.
Gone are the frogs that ate the mosquitoes. Gone are the cattails that waved in the breeze. Gone is the loveliness of nature within the glorious bog amid the cement and snort of civilization. And this is progress?
Muriel J. Phillips
Schools solution not more money
It would take a lot of courage to admit that the school system you are in charge of is doing a lousy job and even more courage to ask for more money so you can continue doing a lousy job. Rick, the biggest problems you have are the ones you won't talk about. You have way too many parents using schools for a babysitting service. You have way too much government involved in your schools and no where near enough parents involved. Rick, you have no way to get the kids out of your schools who don't want to be there. The same goes for teachers who don't teach. Not all kids are college material. There is a demand for plumbers, and pipefitters and laborers. Rick, you have a lot of problems, but more money isn't the solution. There is also the fact that your public brick and mortar buildings are very close to being obsolete. It won't be long before one teacher will be teaching thousands of kids at the same time on the Internet (the kid being at home). Refocus, Rick. And please get your hand out of my wallet.
Mark Tyson
Grades reflect on teachers, too
In the home stretch of another school year, students and parents anxiously wait final grades. Personally, I think we look at grades backward. It all falls on the student. His or her personal failings or achievements are judged as the cause of a grade that determines how a student is labeled now and possibly for years to come. If a student receives an F, that means he/she did not learn enough to pass. It also means the teacher failed in teaching. Most teachers would be devastated to give an F for that reason. If the pupil is successful, the teacher is successful. I've known one teacher to brag about how hard it is to get an A in his class. If no one in the class gets an A that means the teacher was not able to teach a single student at least 90 percent of the subject. Being tough on grades doesn't make students work harder; it makes them give up. I don't send my children to school to get grades; I send them to learn.
Rebekah Cessna, Signal Mountain
Thanks for help on home build
I would like to thank the 52 firefighters, police officers, ex-military and skilled friends from nine states for their support building Sgt. Jason Smith a new home. Jason Smith was severely injured in 2012 while serving with the United States Army. After meeting Jason last year, we formed an amazing grassroots team to get this task accomplished. All of you stepped up and did what was right. Jason, his beautiful wife and adorable baby girl are now in a house that helps him live life at a level we take for granted. To the hundreds of volunteers, organizations, businesses from around the United States, we would like to say thank you for everything you did to get this accomplished. Also special thanks to the Chattanooga Firefighters Association Local 820.
Mike Fitzpatrick, president, "A Soldier's Journey Home," Lawrenceburg, Ky.
Add parents, reduce classes
Re: May 18 front page of the Times Free Press: There are only two things that will change our school system from failure to success: parental involvement and smaller classes. Foreign language teachers in grade school and staff pay raises are laughable. Children who are a success in school now are the same ones who will succeed $34 million from now. What will the extra money buy? A more expensive failure of the current system.
John M. Gamble, Red Bank
Cities need fresh leadership
In the 1950s, Detroit was a city of 1.8 million and one of the wealthiest in the country. Chicago was known as the "Second City" and worked with the largest airport in the world. Baltimore was a pleasant city in Maryland, just entering the Major Leagues with the Orioles and Colts coming to town. Now over a half century later, Detroit just emerged from the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. financial history. Chicago might very well be the next Detroit. Baltimore has endured some of the worst rioting since the '60s. Pictures of the city remind me of Berlin after the war. So what caused these once vibrant cities to disintegrate into chaos and insolvency? We might first look at their leadership. Detroit hasn't had a Republican mayor since 1962. Chicago has been led by Democrat mayors since 1931, and Baltimore hasn't had a Republican mayor since 1967. These are three of the most Democrat cities in three of the most Democrat states. So I would offer a friendly word of advice to Baltimore, Detroit and Chicago. You think it might be time to do something different?
Douglas Jones, Ooltewah
Let's pay for school excellence
After working 36 years as a school counselor in the Hamilton County School system, I am convinced that a great teacher is the most important factor in the successful education of a young person. There is significant research and data to support this. Wouldn't it be wonderful if our brightest and best young people would choose teaching as a career? How could we accomplish that? During the most recent economic recession we questioned why many business executives continued to receive large salaries and bonuses. The reply was, "That's what we have to do to get good people!" Superintendent Rick Smith has a plan that sounds like a small step in the right direction. An excellent and exciting public school system might be just the thing needed to make Chattanooga the intellectual and economic leader in the state (maybe in the country). Let's hope our political leaders see the value in accepting the superintendent's vision.
Catherine Murray
Hot cars no place for children
On April 30, I parked outside a large retail store at Hamilton Place. I got out of my vehicle to see a cute little boy about 3 years old waving at me in a Toyota SUV. When I stepped over for a better view, I was shocked to see an even younger child with no adult. When the security officer arrived, he found the driver side door unlocked and the AC off. Dad, what were you thinking? This could have had a tragic ending. What if the SUV had been stolen with those precious children in it? What if a child sex offender had been there? Dad, what do you think your responsibility is? Children are a gift from God. I urge you to nurture and protect them. I will always have a picture of that sweet smile and wave and his younger sibling in my mind. Parents, wake up!
Annie C. Sanders, Hixson