Impressed at school
I was given the opportunity of witnessing a remarkable event on the 15th of April in Fort Smith. I was invited to assist in presenting an award to a cadet from the JROTC of Northside High School in Fort Smith.
Being a 33-year career person in the military I was still not prepared for the display of patriotism and committed purpose of the high school students celebrating their annual Military Ball. There was not a single long-haired, dreadlocked, facial-pierced, tattooed individual. Instead, the students celebrated the awards of their compatriots with enthusiasm and genuine brotherly/sisterly love. They demonstrated support for the promotion of the new year's cadet officers with true enthusiasm.
The young gentlemen and ladies (I use the terms deliberately) were dressed to the nines and were having a real fun evening. Their deportment and enthusiasm for the JROTC program was very apparent. The entire evening was a tribute to the school administration and teaching staff of the JROTC. I was very proud of the young people and hold out great hope for the future leadership of our great republic.
GARY AARON
Bella Vista
Unchallenged march
It seems the Arkansas Department of Education's efforts to gut the Little Rock School District push forward unchecked and unchallenged. The Republican Guard governing our deeply red state is on the march.
The latest ploy is replacing acting superintendent Baker Kurrus with an interloper from Northwest Arkansas. Whether Kurrus was forced out or simply too frustrated to go on is beside the point. Apparently, he didn't get the memo about not trying to succeed.
With Republicans, one can always just follow the money. I think this move has Walton family written all over it. Unfortunately for Central Arkansas, there is no political backbone remaining in Little Rock to stop the bleeding. The publicly elected school board was simply eliminated and the feckless Little Rock Board of Directors will whimper and fade. Where is the Little Rock Chamber of Commerce? Where is Fifty for the Future?
Many thanks to Baker Kurrus for his valiant efforts and to Jay Barth for continuing to serve on the state board, in the belly of the beast, as it were. Now we are left with only the grizzled John Walker to represent the interest of minority children in Central Arkansas. I hope this aging warrior still has that energy and will to fight on. Of course, even civil-rights lawyers want to be paid.
DAVID ELI COCKROFT
Little Rock
How to fund libraries
The Arkansas Legislature last year cut funding to public libraries by $1 million, and Gov. Asa Hutchinson has apparently proposed no increase for libraries. Now a group in Fayetteville is asking voters to increase the millage rate to improve the library facilities.
So, do we support our state elected leaders and continue to try and dumb down our people, or do we need to increase the knowledge of our citizens? Just asking.
DOUG WARRINGS
Eureka Springs
District needed Kurrus
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is devastated by the recent news regarding the nonrenewal of the contract for the Little Rock School District's Mr. Baker Kurrus. LULAC has worked with the disruptive pattern of rotating superintendents since 2001 and we were absolutely excited upon meeting and learning what Mr. Kurrus proposed to do with the fastest growing segment of the district-population Latinos.
LULAC strongly opposes the removal of Mr. Baker Kurrus from this critical leadership role in the school district. LULAC believes that there was an energetic momentum being developed under Mr. Kurrus. Steady progress was measurable in both involving various community groups and providing a new organization template to move the district to connect with white, black and Latino members of the Little Rock community.
Mr. Kurrus is the most enthusiastic and competent administrator that our organization has worked with in over a decade. During our meetings with him, he shared a vision for ensuring a quality education for all children. He had an impressive knack for thinking outside the box to find new ways to enrich the educational experience for children. His door was always open and despite a myriad of demands from constituents throughout the district, his empathy and enthusiasm was simply contagious.
At a time that some degree of stability is needed for the district, we are once again on the Ferris wheel of dealing with some new administrator. The district needed Baker Kurrus, and the Latino community is saddened by this most recent move by the Arkansas Education commissioner.
ROCIO ORTEGA-RICHARD
and ANDRE GUERRERO
North Little Rock
He united the factions
I want to join the masses who are outraged at the firing of Baker Kurrus. I think he is the best thing that has happened to the Little Rock School District in decades. He brought differing factions together and has brought the district out of the black hole it has been in for years. Asa Hutchinson and Johnny Key need to listen to the residents of Little Rock and bring Kurrus back.
I guess the old adage that says "no good deed goes unpunished" is true.
BONNIE HOLMES
Little Rock
Political correctness
I think Donald Trump is exactly right: Supplanting Andrew Jackson with Harriet Tubman is political correctness of the first water and nothing else. Next on Jacob Lew's celebrity currency list: Amos and Andy.
J. FRED HART JR.
Little Rock
Services saved a life
Recently we had the occasion to need the services of the Little Rock Fire Department and MEMS. We would like to thank them. They were awesome.
Their professionalism, competence and courtesy were outstanding and ultimately saved a life. Thanks again.
ROBERT and TWALA DALEY
Little Rock
Editorial on 04/24/2016