Letters

Educating our young

It is not too late to start saving our children. Reading, writing, arithmetic, arts and P.E. are the roots of our educational system. It is time to start immediately with an additional approach to educating our young.

Make emotional intelligence classes a requirement for all ages and in every grade, a stand-alone course. The best parent, the best teacher, and the best spiritual leader cannot undo the negative exposures a child sees, hears and fears every day through social media where the loud extremists have found an outlet. We need to relieve our academic teachers so that they can do their jobs and have professional counselors teach emotional intelligence.

Imagine your children and their peers being taught at an early age how to cope with daily life, to have empathy and respect for each other, to have self-awareness and mindfulness, and to have the emotional tools to help each other unconditionally. Imagine an abused, neglected child having a full support group of compassionate peers to turn to for help and understanding. Imagine a child having the tools to help a parent who is struggling with their daily life. Just take a moment and envision the endless possibilities of an emotionally intelligent world of children.

DAVID BURROW

Fayetteville

Make safety priority

I am a teacher. Last week was a tough week for my students, and for kids everywhere. For two days all they could talk about was the Florida school shooting. They asked some laser-sharp questions, and I am not sure I could give them any reassuring answers. They know there is no such thing as a completely safe school campus unless it is set up like a maximum security prison. They did not ask if a mass shooting could happen here in rural Arkansas. They know it can.

They asked, "Why don't we have security cameras?" "How do you feel about teachers carrying guns?" "Shouldn't we be doing active-shooter drills?" "What would you do if you saw someone walking across the parking lot carrying a weapon?" Teachers have done active-shooter training for professional development on my campus. It was effective and sobering, but what about our students? All they know is what we tell them about our training--each teacher's classroom and situation being different.

Installation of adequate security measures will be expensive. Security cameras and other safety measures cost money. I refuse to ever carry a weapon on campus. In my opinion, if armed personnel are needed on campus, then trained professional law enforcement officers must be the ones to do that. Teachers are not now, nor should they ever be, expected to do that job.

Money is spent constantly on testing, programs to raise test scores, useless professional development, and many other areas that are considered a priority. Funding follows priorities. Is there anything more important than the safety and well-being of our children? I strongly suggest we refocus our priorities and make sure our most precious resource is protected.

So I'm asking the legislators who are currently in the fiscal session, what will you do to help me answer my students' questions?

SHELLEY SMITH

Fox

Represent the people

Mr. Hill and Mr. Cotton, please be reminded that you represent us in Washington. Taking $1 million+ from the NRA for political gain does not send a message of caring and safety for Arkansas citizens. It seems you've been bought and sold by the gun lobby.

When a mass shooting happens in our state, wouldn't you rather have gone on record as helping to limit availability of certain weapons rather than promote it?

MICHELLE SNYDER

Maumelle

Be part of the solution

A letter from Fort Smith compels me to share a recent experience. I asked a couple of friends in the medical field the following question: "For decades, experts have been educating us about cancer and heart disease. We know risk factors and early signs, and that has saved lives. Couldn't we do the same for mental illness?"

Their answers were not encouraging.

First, they cited systemic issues. Privacy laws make it extremely difficult to share information, and nobody can be forced to go to the hospital. The difference is if you're having chest pains, you'll head for the ER. If you're feeling mad at the world, you might not.

Furthermore, behavioral changes are often extremely subtle and occur gradually over time. The vast majority of those changes are temporary and do not lead to violence. Since people respond differently to events, risk factors are difficult to identify.

In short, it's up to us. The better we know each other and the more we care enough to pay attention, the greater our chances of heading off tragedy. There are people with whom we can share our concerns, such as doctors, ministers, and our local health department. While everyone says there are no guarantees, there actually is one: We'll be part of the solution instead of the problem.

Also, it won't hurt to keep our guns locked up.

CARI KING

Pocahontas

Mark Twain is missed

Re the $60,000 settlement North Little Rock will pay the DAM Riverboat company, the city really "missed the boat" on this issue (pun intended). Here North Little Rock had an exciting tourist attraction. The Mark Twain brought in tourists who spent money in hotels, restaurants and other venues around town. When the Patriot tug showed damage, instead of repairing it or replacing it, North Little Rock chose to close down the company.

Central Arkansas had a wonderful attraction in the Mark Twain. I had been on the Mark Twain three times in the past and always enjoyed it immensely, especially the Thanksgiving cruises. When North Little Rock closed down the riverboat, the company had to cancel rentals and tours already scheduled. It's such a shame that we had to lose something that made Little Rock and North Little Rock unique in this area.

Again, shame on you, North Little Rock, for not spending that $60,000 on something positive, such as a new tug or barge, instead of shutting down a going concern that brought positive recognition to Little Rock and North Little Rock. What a loss ...

MARSHA HEIEN

Stuttgart

Editorial on 02/20/2018

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