Put Surratt, Parks, Liuzzo on currency
If we do replace Andrew Jackson on our $20 bills with a woman, why not replace Ulysses Grant while we're at it - and honor two, three, five or more women? My nomination, hands down, is Mary E. Surratt, the first woman tortured and hanged unjustly - a Christian, innocently involved with the Lincoln conspiracy.
The Booth plan was to kidnap and hold Lincoln for ransom and sue for peace, but J.W. Booth's uncontrolled hatred overpowered him when Lincoln announced equal voting rights for blacks.
None of the other conspirators knew of Booth's new plan to kill the president except Lewis Powell and David Herold, captured with Booth. Both were executed. Powell deserved the noose but not George Atzerodt, Herold nor Mary. Republican President Andrew Johnson slammed the door on the cries for clemency.
Viola Liuzzo would be a wonderful choice - an early victim of the civil rights movement who was murdered in Alabama. A white woman, the most ignored hero in America. She and Rosa Parks belong together on the same bill.
Robert Lee Brown
Let's pay more for better schools
Why does Superintendent Rick Smith only want "Hamilton County to have the best public schools in the South" (March 30, page A1)? Why not in the country and why only public schools? Hamilton County needs to have the best schools, period. And I am happy to pay more taxes to make that so.
We need to pay teachers more so we can hire and keep the best ones, and so more college students will choose to become teachers. We need to update our programs and use more technology. We need to rehab our school buildings or build new ones.
Hamilton County commissioners need to get rid of their personal accounts and spend that money they have stockpiled on the schools. I don't have a child in the schools, but when I did they attended some of the best in the country. And, yes, they were public schools. Let's make that happen in Hamilton County.
Jane Elmore
Students saluted for butterfly work
I enjoyed reading Monday's Page 1 article about monarch butterflies by Kendi Anderson. It is nice to see uplifting articles. This one especially struck me because of the students' involvement in the wetland. One of the best ways to learn is by being hands-on. Growing up, my favorite and most memorable school lessons were reinforced by field trips or experiments. The students at Skyuka Hall are not only experiencing the opportunity to learn hands-on, they are learning to be aware of the environment. What an awesome experience. Keep up the good work, Skyuka Hall students!
Amanda Kinzie
Girls thrive under Girls Inc. guidance
In regard to the Page 1 story "Race Affects Discipline in Schools" (March 30), all girls involved with Girls Inc. programs are significantly less likely to face discipline in school. Starting at age 6, Girls Inc. girls learn how to set and achieve goals, develop positive leadership skills, experience building consensus and conflict resolution strategies, listen and respect the viewpoints of others, and celebrate diversity. Girls Inc. girls learn to focus on academic achievement and prepare for college. They seize opportunities and work through challenges with the support of our trained college degreed staff who are their mentors.
That's why 100 percent of girls who finish Girls Inc. after-school programs in their senior year of high school go to college, and almost without exception, graduate in four years.
We encourage all girls interested in a future of success to get involved with Girls Inc., by calling 423-624-4757 or by sending an email to tjohnson@girlsincofchatt.org.
Bea Lurie, President & CEO of Girls Inc.
Hello, brush pickup? Help!
I live in the Chattanooga city limits, and we have brush pickup. The only problem is we have to call 311 to get the service. I've been trying for two days now to talk with someone. All I get is a recording saying to hold on and not hang up because I need to keep my place in the queue to talk with someone.
Yesterday, I held for about 15 minutes and still didn't get anyone. The problem with this is in a few days someone from the city will come by and put a notice on my brush that I'm going to be fined if I don't get it picked up. Well, I've tried.
Is this maybe the city's way of doing away with this practice? If so, it needs to notify citizens it won't be coming any longer, or is it the city's way to get a little more revenue?
Patricia Noll
Buddhist column appreciated
Thank you for offering us Jennifer Fahey's faith column on Buddhism, a refreshing change from the dominance of conservative Christianity in your newspaper.
I hope you will allow an atheist, agnostic or other unaffiliated author to write one of your religion columns once or twice a year. This seems about right, given the fact you publish about 200 Christian columns each year (two weekly columnists who are openly evangelical about their Christianity and two columns a week usually presented from a Christian viewpoint).
Those of us termed secular-unaffiliated outnumber all other nonChristians in the United States. (5.8 percent vs 4.7 percent).
Michael Peralta
Worry not about second coming
Are things any worse now than they were in biblical days? Ever since Jesus ascended to heaven, people have tried to predict when he would return. Even the disciples thought Jesus would return shortly after he ascended. Isn't this a waste of time? After all, Bible scripture Matthew 24:42-44 says: "For in such an hour ye think not the Lord the son of man will come." Also 1 Thessalonians 5:2: "The Lord will come as a thief in the night."
Read the scriptures for yourself. Christians do not worry about when they will die or when Jesus will return. They have prepared for both. However, true Christians do worry about trying to teach the gospel to all - as they are commanded to do so.
Jennifer Bradford