Queries need answers
In the ongoing discussion and reporting of student testing results, there are questions, the answers to which I have not seen reported.
(1) Using the most current data, what percentage of students in Arkansas now take the ACT or SAT compared to, say, 30 years ago? An increase in the number tested would have an effect on the percentage of those doing poorly or well.
(2) Is there any empirical, independent study showing any correlation between the ACT/SAT scores and success in higher education? Those in the field of education with whom I have spoken indicate that the only such studies are by the testing companies, which results could be construed as self-serving.
SAM HIGHSMITH
Little Rock
Put him on its payroll
Wally Hall should get paid by the university athletic department. His ability to spin apologies for the football program (Jeff Long and Bret Bielema) are becoming the stuff of legend. He always is ready with an excuse for this program. I do believe the need is for bigger and better facilities; that's the ticket.
JOHN LEONARD
Fayetteville
Reasons not to elect
We are forever hearing reasons for voting for this or that candidate for office. Why do we never seem to read or hear about the reasons we should not vote for them? May I suggest a few?
(1) When you call an elected official and you are told that someone will get back with you in a few days but you never hear from them.
(2) When you write asking for information and you receive, after a very long time, a "no answer" letter telling you how glad they are to hear from you and they go on with information about anything but that which you have written about.
(3) When you ask for sources of information you need for a community project, they mail you addresses and phone numbers of groups that they know, or should know, will not be of any assistance.
Why do we pay all those who should be helping to do less than nothing? And they keep asking for more.
DONALD L. WATERWORTH
Pocahontas
Can still read paper
I just read Mr. James Gifford's recent letter. To prevent losing a customer, the newspaper might suggest to him to buy only a Sunday subscription and have access to daily editions online, that is, if he doesn't have access to a senior center or a library.
DENNIS A. BERRY
Bryant
What we depend on
Are you uncomfortable and distressed about the 11 million undocumented immigrants in your country? Does the thought of deporting them all make you feel better? It's your lucky day. You see, I have magical powers, and I've just caused them all to ... vanish.
You feel better now, and dress for work. But ... where's your nanny? She told you she was legal. You wind up having to get a sitter for the kids. Boy, is that expensive! No time for a leisurely breakfast. You'll stop at the nearby coffee shop. But their cook didn't show up, so the manager is in the kitchen, trying to cover. Oh, and the bus boy didn't show up either. All the tables are piled with dirty dishes. Same thing happens at lunch. And the restrooms in your building are a mess. Why aren't they clean?
When you finally leave work, the fields you drive by are empty of workers. Crops are rotting on the vine. You stop by the market to pick up a few items ... but the produce section is almost empty of merchandise. You pull into your driveway and notice that your yard service hasn't come. And when you walk inside, neither did the cleaning woman. No point checking into the nearby motel--its cleaning women didn't come to work either.
It's strange how much more you notice those illegals when they aren't here. I guess you didn't realize how totally the American economy depends on those silent people who work like dogs for so little money.
ANN LINK
Little Rock
Lives of the innocent
In great trepidation I have just recently returned from the funeral of my nephew who lost his life, along with two others, in a deadly head-on collision on Interstate 530 in southern Pulaski County, south on Dixon Road on Sept. 13. Also injured were four others, who were taken to UAMS Medical Center and Baptist Medical Center.
In the name of common sense, in the name of sanity, in the name of God--when will we learn that careless driving costs the lives of our loved ones, family members, friends, and many times affects those we do not even know? If cars were built to look more like black coffins with wheels--maybe we would understand them to be the widowmakers and killers they are.
Over 30,000 people are killed each year by car accidents in the United States. As with guns, it's not just the cars, but their drivers who take the lives of the innocent, those riding with them and those that happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
If you love others, then why would you take the chance to destroy them? Almost everyone tries to dodge the dog or deer (when possible) in the road. Isn't the life of a fellow human being worth even more?
By the way, what is your life worth?
TOM KNIGHT
Little Rock
Mention seat-belt use
Traffic fatalities will always be a huge problem in our country as long as humans have control of their cars and trucks. People are not perfect and some are reckless and/or just plain stupid. Will that ever change?
I've noticed that the Democrat-Gazette seems to seldom mention nowadays whether a person who is killed in an accident was wearing their seat belt as required by law. I feel that is very important as a very large number of fatalities are caused by the failure to wear seat belts. As a retired officer, I saw many deaths that might have been avoided if only seat belts had been worn.
Is it possible this little item of information could be included in future articles? Maybe some folks would take notice.
LARRY GENTRY
Benton
Editor's note: The Democrat-Gazette's general practice is to include seat-belt information if germane to the story.
Much-needed services
Planned Parenthood provides birth control, HIV testing, and family planning. Taking away funding for this program would be shooting ourselves in the foot as far as leaving thousands of families or potential families without much-needed medical services that don't have a thing to do with abortion, y'all.
Come on, Arkansas! We already have so many stringent regulations in this state already. Leave Planned Parenthood alone, please.
JENNIFER LEWIS
Little Rock
Editorial on 10/02/2015