Costs of remediation
A few years ago was when I first began college, I remember vividly the joy that came from being out of the parents' house. And the level of shock that arose when I realized I wasn't ready for college.
Remedial classes in college saved me a slow death from books, but I was upset to learn that there was a cost to them. With the cost of education going up swiftly as the years tick by, I fear for coming students. While this may seem a minor subject to pay for remedial classes, I believe it shows a deeper failure of our education system to prepare students for college. So many college students are required to take remedial classes, but should they be required to pay for these classes? I argue no, that the education system should pay for these classes as it stems from its failures.
Our future depends on these students, and it is my belief that these remedial classes vastly aid students on their journey, but they should not have to pay for the spark that they need.
JOSHUA LICHOFF
Conway
Our Arkansas weather
Seems like it's about time for Richard Allin's "Annual Snow Tire and Daffodil" festival.
BILL McDONALD
Little Rock
Such wisdom there
I'd like to thank the Arkansas legislators for their unbounded wisdom in drafting and passing Senate Bill 202.
But now what does a devoutly Christian baker operating a bakery anywhere in Arkansas do when a black, gay couple comes in to order their wedding cake?
What if a black couple wishes to order a birthday cake for their black, gay son?
What if a 65-year-old, black, lesbian, English woman wishes to order a cake?
What if we make it easier for our heterosexual, Christian business owners to recognize a homosexual customer by requiring all homosexuals to wear an inverted pink triangle on their clothing?
What if the governor simply vetoes this ridiculous bill before millions of tax dollars are wasted trying in vain to defend this nonsense?
S.C. ASHBY
Cabot
Can't get out of here
It snowed Sunday night into Monday morning in Bella Vista. As of Tuesday, the plows apparently don't know how to reach the side streets. I am only glad that we haven't had a medical emergency or, worse yet, a fire--the fire department would have a difficult time reaching us.
Maybe we should cut salaries from property owners association officers and pay for plow drivers. This is just an idea because we all know it would never happen.
DONALD KWIATKOWSKI
Bella Vista
Don't merit full pay
In the last session our elected leaders put Issue 3 on the ballot and then went about duping the voters into voting for it. Why? Apparently so they could put their friends on a commission to give themselves a raise and not have to answer to the voters for getting it.
Let me ask you this: Why should a part-time employee of the state make more than an employee who works 40 hours a week all year long? This is exactly what the commission is proposing to do by raising our representatives' pay. They will work part time and make full-time wages. This is not acceptable and should be repealed.
DOUGLAS HARRIS
Dumas
Let the locals choose
With Senate Bill 202 now on Gov. Asa Hutchinson's desk, Arkansas stands at an important crossroad: Do we define ourselves as a small-government state or do we lose ourselves to big government?
While many of you might be celebrating a moral victory built upon the ideals of your faith with the passage of this bill, do not forget that you were arguing against this type of law just last year.
It has been only a few short months since those who celebrate local rule of law won the right to control alcohol sales at a county level. Now, those same individuals are celebrating a law that it seems would revoke all pretenses of local rule. You hold a sign in your right hand that demands your right to make local morality-based laws surrounding alcohol, while holding a conflicting sign in your left hand that demands that no one have that right when it comes to morality-based laws surrounding sexuality.
Our court systems and national attitudes toward morality and social norms will ultimately decide what is and is not legal when it comes to homosexuality. Until that ultimate decision is made, I ask all Arkansans to be an example for the rest of the nation: Let our actions speak louder than others' words.
Arkansas is great because we are fair, logical, small-government people. Let us not surrender those virtues that make our state a great place to live for a political victory. Until the courts speak, let local governments and local communities choose.
BRANDON MURPHY
Little Rock
Took away security
In light of the recent Little Rock School District takeover, I believe the state Board of Education has taken drastic steps too soon.
Many faculty, staff, parents, and students feel that their concerns were not even considered by the board, which is why concerned citizens were protesting last week.
I understand the district had six schools under academic distress; however, that is still less than 15 percent of the schools. Like state Sen. Joyce Elliott said, you don't put an entire body in a cast for a broken arm, you treat the arm.
People also feel like their democratic rights were taken away because the board members were elected by the people, but were taken away by the state board.
Another issue that could be apparent in the near future is that the locality of the system has been nearly eliminated. If there were ever a problem in the classroom or in the school, a parent would have to try to meet with someone who is disconnected from the district. They likely would have very little prior knowledge about the schools, faculty, staff, and culture.
While I understand the district may not be able to gain control any time soon, the board could have additional familiar faces to parents and students help with any issues. I feel that it would make the situation a bit better.
In this state, many take pride in being local. By taking that away, the board took away people's security.
ASHLEY BRONSON
Lonoke
Editorial on 02/19/2015