Ready4K text messaging helps parents, students
We hear daily about the needs of our teachers and students throughout Hamilton County. The list of needs is long, but programs and opportunities continue to develop across our district to meet the demands.
However, let us not forget what may be the most important key to our students’ continued success – parents. Development, accountability, values and confidence all begin and end at home for most students.
I signed up for Chattanooga’s free Ready4K text-messaging program. I receive messages each week that help remind me of key developmental information and tips on how to play, talk, and engage with my children. More than 1,800 Chattanooga families now receive these updates. Consider the impact of starting early and sending more than 1,800 students to school – prepared and ready to learn.
I am thankful to live in a community that understands our role as parents and provides tools to make a real impact in our daily lives. We are lucky to receive the benefits of the great work being done by Causeway, United Way, Hamilton County Department of Education, the Chattanooga 2.0 movement and many others.
I encourage you to enroll in Ready4K. For children ages 3, 4, or 5, sign up by texting R4K CHAT3, R4K CHAT4, or R4K CHAT5 to 70138 from any mobile device.
Lesley Scearce
President/CEO, United Way of Greater Chattanooga
Thursday’s paper gives one reader lots of laughs
Had to laugh! Business section headline: “TVA security guards to give up handguns.” How well did that work for the recruiting office and Naval Reserve in Chattanooga? Just because the Obama administration proposed it, does that make it correct?
Region section: “High costs sideline bus seat belt bill.” Out of curiosity, what is the cost of a child’s life and how does that affect the municipality insurance rate that engaged the transportation company to transport children? My guess is a lot more than the cost of seat belts.
How about Clarence Page’s Chattanooga Times commentary: “Trump faces wall around sanctuary cities.” Regardless of the idiocy of his argument, how long would it be before the ALCU acted to prevent any “city from becoming a sanctuary city for the unborn,” just because the city said so?
Lastly, let’s not forget the chuckles from Robert Reich, that “Berkeley bastion of free speech” who likened those seeking asylum from the Axis powers in World War II to those entering this country illegally. Keep up the good work. I would have to watch Comedy Central for a week nonstop to get this many good laughs – if even then!
Tom McNeill
Signal Mountain
Details do make a difference in headlines
A headline on Tuesday’s Region front page was misleading. If readers just read the headline, “Teacher charged with biting student,” they would have assumed it was a certified classroom teacher. They would have had to read the full article to see the person arrested was a teacher’s aide, a very different classification, with much less preparation, education and responsibilities.
As a classroom teacher for more than 40 years, I can tell you teachers are working much harder today than in the past and getting less respect. Headlines like this don’t help.
Jim Watson
Hixson