Give students choice
Exciting decisions are now being made by the state Board of Education on greater school choice. One option under consideration is Arkansas Connections Academy (ARCA), a proposed full-time statewide online public charter school for grades K-12. ARCA will combine virtual education with real connections among students, family, certified local teachers, and the community to promote academic and emotional success for students.
As parents of three, my wife and I home-school our children because we believe we can provide the best one-on-one teaching environment to them at this time. However, we evaluate our educational options every spring. Families of students who are hospitalized or homebound, have anxiety or behavioral issues, learn at a faster or slower pace, or students who are training to be performing artists or professional athletes should be able to choose the academic environment that best cultivates learning in their children.
As assistant professor at the University of Arkansas, I teach an educational technology program completely online to college students. Nationwide, families of K-12 students are finding success with online school as well as preparation for college and career. In the 2013-14 school year, an estimated 315,000 students in 30 states plus Washington, D.C., received their educations from fully online schools, according to Keeping Pace with Digital Learning. Arkansas currently has just one fully online school, and families deserve more options.
We must remain focused on students--their individual needs--and families whose students will benefit from a different school environment and learning approach. We owe it to Arkansas children to give them access to the best possible public education.
DENNIS BECK
Fayetteville
'Twas but propaganda
It seems the editorials July 23 and 24 were less opinion and more propaganda. In the first, Obama is cast as desperate and the Iranians crazy. If he is desperate, perhaps it's because so many have swallowed the bait of inane talking points shouted repeatedly by notable Republicans and editorial writers like ours.
Certainly no one makes a deal with crazy, so to cast Iranians as such implies that, as Tom Cotton said, we should not have entered negotiations in the first place. Without an agreement, international sanctions will crumble and Iran could proceed to bomb away, if in fact such is really their intention.
Next, the president is accused of leaving Iraq arbitrarily when in fact that was according to Bush's agreement. The Benghazi card is played next with the usual groundless blame, the epitome of fabricating a complicated conspiracy out of the simplest tragedy for political purpose.
Among the facades in the second piece, it is denied that there was a rush to war in Iraq. Of course not rushed, but just as soon as the army in Afghanistan could transform the mission and the administration could sell the story. The writer goes on to say diplomacy failed and the inspectors pulled out. What diplomacy? To give up non-existent WMDs? Bush pulled inspectors out in preparation for shock and awe.
By the way, inspectors were right then about WMDs and could be right again in Iran.
ROLAND ROBINSON
Maumelle
Why didn't they vote?
If asked, I'm sure most Americans would agree that highway funding is extremely important. So many of our nation's roads and bridges are in need of repair. It seems there is a bipartisan effort to get this funding approved and many GOP senators are on board. But as usual, numerous non-related bills have been tacked on. A bill to overturn the president's health-care law (sorry, guys, that ship has sailed) was one of the pile-ons in the Senate last week.
These senators will have to find a way to fund this, and that may mean raising taxes in some form or another such as raising the gasoline tax. Last Friday the Senate voted 51-26 on a plan to fund highways and mass transit for the next three years. It's interesting to note that neither John Boozman nor Tom Cotton voted.
My take on this is that neither of them wanted to have a "yes" vote on their record for raising taxes, nor a "no" vote opposing helping our highway system. So in typical political fashion, just don't vote at all. Pretty cowardly, if you ask me ... which no one did.
LYN GRIMES
Hot Springs Village
Seems it's just politics
Our newspaper headlines of July 28th: The lead story, "$7.4M sought for prison beds." Second lead, "Policies ending, 47,000 are told." So, we do everything we can to provide all the comforts to convicted criminals, but we do all we can to take away from citizens who need medical assistance?
Where I live, we call this "bass-ackwards." I guess in Little Rock they call it politics.
KEN TIPTON
Bigelow
Continue to support
I've watched these Planned Parenthood videos in disgust knowing the lifesaving decision to donate tissue was not made lightly. I know my friend who lost a child in a car accident and made the decision to donate body parts would be rightfully outraged if someone tried to peddle pictures of that, or tried to denigrate an incredibly difficult decision by noting some money traded hands. Planned Parenthood did nothing wrong. Even many Republicans agreed when voting to allow this lifesaving research in the 1990s.
Anyone who doesn't believe how highly charged the world of abortion access is should join me for a day of escorting at an abortion clinic. The protesters appear to truly believe I am a murderer because I attempt to shield a woman from their vitriol. No God I could ever imagine would condone what these people do.
Many of us don't realize how close we are to our children and grandchildren losing the right to choose a legal, safe abortion. If you don't want to have an abortion, I trust you will never have one. If you don't want your neighbor to have an abortion--remember this is not your decision.
Why not encourage adequate sex education to empower people to protect themselves? Planned Parenthood is the largest organization doing this important job. Even if we avoid all unintended pregnancies (not possible), there will be decisions a woman has to make when health, safety, and her life are in danger. If a woman chooses to try and make something good come out of this nightmare she is living, how dare anyone denigrate her lifegiving choice.
I remain a proud Planned Parenthood supporter. This latest attack has renewed my commitment to volunteer and support them. Thanks, Planned Parenthood, for being there for so many of us!
KAREN MUSICK
Little Rock
Must cope with reality
David Fellerath seems to applaud the removal of the Confederate flag from public places as a healthy response to the massacre of nine African Americans in Charleston. He also seems to view anti-gun legislation as "concern for people who want to live without fear of guns entering their lives." I believe it's unlikely that either activity will make our lives safer or lessen the gap between races.
Wanting to live without fear of vio-lence may be easier to accomplish with awareness, education and preparedness. Most homes and vehicles have locks on their doors. Fire extinguishers, smoke alarms and even guns are also tools that can help protect us.
It would be foolish to ignore the violent acts that have occurred in our country in order to not feel fear. Rather, we should educate and equip ourselves to cope with reality. We need legislators that will help us do that. We do not need laws that take firearms away from law-abiding people. Of course, they are the only ones that will comply with anti-gun laws.
LINDA WARWICK
Rose Bud
Editorial on 07/31/2015