Life begins at quickening
A recent letter in the paper headlined “When life begins is main question” is right on point. I have always thought life begins with the quickening of the baby, which is consistent with an old Hebrew tradition, not when a sperm hits an ovum. In researching quickening, I found “Abortion and Personhood: Historical and Comparative Notes” by Dr. David L. Perry, professor of applied ethics and director of the Vann Center for Ethics at Davidson College in North Carolina. After reading his article, I’m inclined to go with Aristotle, who Perry cites in his quote from “On the Soul,” which also fits with modern findings in neuroscience. Aristotle believed the human embryo developed in three phases: “a) the nutritive/vegetative soul, characteristic of plants, b) the sensitive soul, which many animals have, and c) the intellectual/rational soul, which human beings have.” I’ve been a mother twice and have experienced the quickening with my children. I truly believe my children were touched by God when that happened, even if it was just synapse formation. If you read Roe vs. Wade, you will see that Harry Blackmun must have read Aristotle.
Susan Spurgeon
Don’t back off academic standards
As a retired admiral, I would like to point out that rolling back Tennessee’s new academic standards will not only be financially costly, it may also threaten our future military readiness (“Tennessee’s Common Core review comes with uncommon costs,” Feb. 23, 2015). Poor educational achievement is one of the leading reasons why more than 70 percent of all young Americans ages 17-24 are unable to join the military. This problem hits us close to home here in Tennessee, where 14 percent of our high school students do not graduate on time and, among those who do graduate and try to join the military, one in four cannot enlist because of low scores on the military’s exam for math, literacy and problem solving. Tennessee’s higher standards prepare students to be critical thinkers, problem solvers, and adept communicators. They do not tell teachers how to teach — local schools and teachers are still in charge of the lessons taught in our classrooms. I salute the governor, state adjutant general, and leaders in the state legislature who support high academic standards so that our students graduate from high school with the skills needed for college, careers and the military for those who choose to serve.
Vance Fry, Harrison
UTC students deserve better
Once again, UTC is in the hot seat of public opinion, this time because it is allowing a student to disrupt an English class with inappropriate behavior, both in class and out. As a high school teacher, I expect most of my classes to have students who can’t behave, as well as administrators who allow it without the student having any consequences for their actions, but to see the “trickle down” of rude and obnoxious behavior at a university is indeed an eye-opener. There is no doubt that students in this class are being shortchanged by the antics of this unruly goof-off wasting money of those who are at the college to learn things in order to be self-sufficient. UTC students pay tuition and should expect an opportunity to receive meaningful instruction, but apparently this idea is being compromised. There are too many red flags for me to even consider sending my child to a college that doesn’t have students’ best interests in mind.
Tom Baker, Hixson
Put away cell phones for children’s sake
Every morning and every afternoon during the school year, children are being dropped off and picked up in and around school parking lots. Some are getting out of or into cars, while others are walked from or to parked cars. What a perfect time to have a conversation about the day to come or the events from the day. However, there are too many times when the adult is on a cell phone giving their attention to someone else. I would guess that many times that phone call could wait. When people are about be away from their kids anywhere from seven to 12 hours, they need to hang up the phone and put their attention on the children. I am not trying to tell people how to parent, but you would be surprised the difference a few extra minutes of conversation will make. It could be the difference in a great day of learning and a day filled with problems. Plus, you might be able to pay better attention to the school zone speed limits and those directing traffic to protect everyone.
Chris Darras, Ooltewah