Letters to the editor: July 18
Schools lose when focus on checklist, not teaching
Western Kentucky University administrator Aaron W. Hughey's recent commentary had as its basic premise that before the "micromanagers" and "gatekeepers" entered our schools, we were the envy of the world.
People seeking a first-class education knew the United States was the gold standard. Now, in deference to "the checklist-wielding enthusiasts," teaching students is no longer the priority of teachers. Instead, educators are "more obsessed with credentialing."
I hope Tom Shelton, superintendent of Fayette County Public Schools, read this commentary. If he would acknowledge the problems in our schools today it would go a long way to increase our children's chances of an excellent education.
Power-crazed middle managers (formerly known as principals) have harassed our most experienced educators out of jobs for the almighty dollar. Younger teachers cost less money, and are therefore highly sought after.
In their quest to "document" education they have put a stop to any meaningful discussions of education's purpose. Perhaps principals' time would be better spent encouraging, researching and even providing the entire school with some educating of their own rather than demoralizing the most experienced and educated teachers.
As soon as the superintendent gets rid of these bullies in our schools who are hounding and harassing our educators to the point of no return, the sooner Fayette schools can reclaim some of the gold standard it once enjoyed.
The idea that teaching is an experience of sharing culture and history between generations served us well in the past and would continue to serve us well, if permitted.
Jacqueline Barnes
Lexington
Lawmakers don't care
Why is there so much discussion about whom we should help and whom we should not?
The answer is: Everyone who needs help. Even if it hurts the pocketbook.
It's good to take care of yourself. But it's even better to take care of others.
We don't care. We just don't care. Do we want that written on our tombstones?
In my lifetime, I have never seen such a weak roster of politicians. And that includes Sen. Mitch McConnell. He may believe he's doing the right thing, and it might do for another country, but not this one.
And I have never seen such a moral mess. Just watch television for 10 minutes and you will soon understand. Television used to be quite good, but not anymore. It's all for money. Most of the programming is pure trash.
In the coming election there is no choice at all. Republican or Democrat, they are all mostly weak. I do give credit to the president. At least he cares.
Weak people make a weak nation. People who do not care about others are not only weak but are doomed to extinction.
So?
A beautiful promise is just about to go down the drain.
What a tragedy. We could have been so much more.
Bob Saffell
Winchester
U.S. dream about to end
We have entered the last phase of democracy, a system which could not be expected to endure ad infinitum. The authors of the U.S. Constitution created a new ad hoc system to end tyranny of a king.
It now seems apparent that the rule of common men, entitled now to live upon the earnings of other men, by electing surrogates who are beholden to them, the Congress and professional sycophants who vie for the favors of a populace which commands them to rule in favor of the masses. We are there now, at the threshold of corruption (perhaps too late) of the democratic system. It only took 236 years, the flicker of an eyelash in man's existence.
It becomes apparent that the unlettered ones and the indolent, to whom the Congress panders in the name of tenure, will eagerly destroy what the founding fathers created, in their determination to be free of an English king. We have achieved — rather quickly — the destruction of their dreams.
The greatest nation on the planet is to be ruled now by those who live off the labor of those who work and save. The takers, who do not work, or pay taxes, do now enjoy the rights of kings.
William A. Watson
Middlesborough
Justice, show your papers
Let me see if I have this straight. "Fast and Furious" was an undercover program by the U.S. government to sell weapons to drug cartels in Mexico. Brian Terry, a border agent, is killed in a gunfight on the border. The gun used to kill him was traced back to our government; someone blew the whistle on this and the Justice Department denied involvement, then admitted a mistake.
Then, Congress wants to know how involved the Justice Department was and asks it to turn over documents. So, the Justice Department turns over all of the documents up until it admitted involvement, and Congress says nice try, but we want the rest of the documents to see exactly how far up the food chain this really goes.
Now, all some people can do is say Congress' action is politically motivated, and it just wants to make the administration look bad. No, that is not it. Terry's family deserves to know who pushed the buttons that got him killed.
Even if it is politically motivated, turn over the documents and, if you are not involved, then you can sit back and laugh at the Republicans with egg on their face. So, why wouldn't you turn over to them all that they want?
Some suspect this program was probably designed to give an excuse to implement major gun-control laws, but it seemed to backfire on them. So if you are not guilty, give Congress what it has asked for and prove otherwise.
George Greenup
Lexington
Focus on public good
Regarding the June 20 Associated Press article, "Fed sees lower economic growth for 2012," the latest jobs numbers underscore the need to examine what's working in our economy and what isn't and extrapolate as to why.
Take the broadband industry, for example. Service providers have invested over $250 billion in the last four years to build the most superior high-speed networks, resulting in sustained employment and upgrades that have brought 100 Mbps speeds to 80 percent of households.
We can now choose from six to 12 providers offering a variety of speeds and prices, meaning more families can access the technology to improve their job skills, look for work or help the kids with homework — all important activities for working Americans, particularly Hispanic families who are just now coming online.
We accomplished this with a very light regulatory touch — like franchising rules that prevent redlining of Hispanic communities.
In the oil industry, in contrast, where the Obama administration has licensed 400 new rigs and increased domestic production to the highest levels in a decade, gas prices remain high because speculators are able to manipulate the international futures market.
Some successful industries thrive and promote the public good with minimal rules; others are ripe for abuse. Until we can learn to deregulate where it's called for but apply stricter rules where needed, we will continue to be lost in a sea of vapid ideological aphorisms.
Jack Otero
Former vice president, AFL-CIO
Former national president, Labor Council for Latin American Advancement
Arlington, Va.
This story was originally published July 18, 2012 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Letters to the editor: July 18."