Education, poverty inextricably linked
Tuesday's Chattanooga Times editorial is a brilliant summary of the relationship between education and poverty. As a 30-plus year teacher, I know that schools alone cannot solve the problems of poverty, even if they were funded a hundred times what they are now.
Generally, poverty kids come to school without the enabling environments of the more fortunate. Deficiencies are particularly acute in reading and the social skills necessary to learn in the school culture.
Unlike the acute depression-era poverty of the parents we baby boomers had, many contemporary families have lived in public housing and been unemployed for three generations. Many children lack adults in their home lives who can help them with school or to develop the behaviors or values needed for educational success.
The reality is that once many children walk out the school doors, they return to pathological environments and cultures of survival, not enrichment. If any education they receive at school is going to stick, other agencies, professionals and volunteers must assist families and communities with health, safety, employment opportunities, and social issues like divorce, gangs and teen pregnancy.
Gary Furman
Rossville
'Slow poke' law idiotic, unneeded
The "slow poke" bill is vague, stupid and contradictory. There is no definition of what constitutes "impeding the flow" of traffic. There is too much latitude granted to police to determine who is or isn't a "slow poke" and, worst, the law is contradictory and forces motorists to violate one law (the speed law) to comply with another.
On top of this, the class of misdemeanor is too high and will cause everyone's already-high insurance rates to get even worse.
If it is rammed through the legislature in its current form, I will not sign the ticket if I am cited under it, and I will not pay the fine.
Civil disobedience is the duty of every citizen who recognizes that a law is idiotic, unnecessary and meant only to satisfy the ego of someone who wants to stop other people from doing something "for the public good" and not because he can claim legitimate harm from the action.
Richard Shultz
Stifling Hall tax relief is needed
I have been waiting for years to get some relief from the unfair Hall Income Tax. After working many years as a part-time employee, and not qualifying for a pension, I decided to make my own money. So I invested in stocks.
Now my stocks are taxed three times. First when the company earns enough money to pay taxes. Then when it pays out dividends to stockholders, and the dividends are taxed by the IRS. Then once more by the state of Tennessee.
Many stockholders are older people who must live on a reduced fixed income.
These dividends are not taxed by the state of Tennessee when they are taken out as payments as they are not identified by source. The Hall tax discourages people from investing in small businesses in Tennessee. Even people from other states must pay the tax if their income is enough. Isn't it time to repeal this unfair tax? I certainly hope so.
June S. Payne
Don't be fooled by debate tactics
The recent CNN Republican debate was dominated by some remarkable gish-galloping by Marco Rubio. What's gish-galloping? It is a debate tactic to spew so many points in a short span that an opponent can't address or counter all of it. It is a defensive, incendiary, obfuscating tactic intended to derail the process of rational dialogue. It may make for entertaining TV, but it won't capture my vote or impress me that the candidate has any valid arguments.
Don't rely on the media moderators to derail this practice. It's good advertising for the media and grist for the talking heads.
The most important fact of the political circus is there are only two people running for president not controlled by financial interests: Sanders and Trump. What kind of economy do we want for our country?
Susan Spurgeon
Speak up about CSX crossing
For many years, I heard complaints about CSX trains blocking Graysville Road for lengthy periods of time, especially when people were trying to get to work.
I never had a problem until last year. I now frequently use that route to get to East Brainerd Road. On Feb. 9, I wrote a letter to Michael Ward, chairman and CEO of CSX, and received a reply on March 4 from Quintin Kendall, vice president of state government and community affairs. Mr. Kendall basically said they are monitoring the situation and have an open line of communication with county officials and are also working "closely" with state and local officials, GDOT and the Federal Railroad Administration.
If you want your voices heard, speak with a representative at TellCSX, 877-835-5279, or e-mail TellCSX@csx.com. Also, you might want to contact your state representatives and GDOT.
As I understand it, Georgia has a surplus of money, so a highway bridge over the rail line is a possible solution.
Cherise Miller
Ringgold, Ga.
Cruelty in the name of care
Once again, I stare at a top news story in my newspaper about the investigations of rehab/nursing homes. After experiencing the shameful, neglected and inhumane care of my aunt, it got even closer in January with my mother, who at age 83 suffered a broken wrist and hip.
The oh-so-competent doctor at our local hospital recommended she go to "rehab" instead of doing home health care like I wanted. Two days later she was begging me not to leave her because she "was being yanked around and not fed and not given water."
Her exact words were, "It is like a frat party at night." She was afraid to sleep and could not feed herself. Her food tray was placed on her table and left covered. I took her home immediately, and Hospice was called in. She died on Jan. 31, at home with her family where she was truly safe.
There are good people at all these places - all it takes is a few who get joy out of neglecting someone in need.
Regina Smalley Townsend
East Ridge
Simpler Internet bill better idea
State Sens. Mike Bell, Bo Watson and Ken Yager have introduced a bill (SB1990) that allows a municipal electric system to provide Internet broadband service to customers outside its service area if certain conditions are satisfied.
The corresponding House bill is HB1839. However, this bill is as bad as the existing law it changes. The bill obviously is designed to protect from healthy competition the existing private Internet and cable TV providers that have already decided it is not profitable to offer broadband Internet in rural areas.
One of the most egregious provisions is that a municipal utility can provide only broadband Internet service and shall not include cable service, two-way video transmission or video programming.
This apparently prohibits YouTube, Skype video calls, Netflix and any other video streaming or download service available over the Internet. What private or public company could make any money trying to sell a limited service like that?
Please contact the sponsors and your representatives, and tell them SB1990/HB1839 does not address the needs and interests of the citizens of Tennessee.
Thomas C. Matthews
Cleveland, Tenn.
Accountability key to Chatt 2.0
Chattanooga 2.0 is ambitious, and the journey to success is going to be challenging. I did not anticipate that Rick Smith would stay on as superintendent, but it is one of the many twists and turns that we will navigate as we proceed. The events of last week do not change the importance of Chattanooga 2.0 or the engagement of our community.
If Rick Smith is going to be the leader of our school system, then what is his plan to implement Chattanooga 2.0? Just as importantly, is the Board of Education going to support the plan and hold him accountable for clear and specific goals? Lastly, is the initiative important enough to us as citizens of Hamilton County to hold the school board members accountable if they do not uphold their responsibility? We all have a role to play. Let's quit pointing fingers and figure this out because it is too important to our community for us to let it fail.
Hamp Johnston