Observer Forum: Letters to the editor 09.20.15

Safety must come first in schools

Instead of looking for discrimination in every act, why are we not praising the teachers for being alert to the possibility of a bomb – no matter what religion, color, or sex?

Thankfully, the clock was just a clock.

But with the incidents we have had in schools, I would prefer the adults in the school acted for safety first.

Fiorina didn’t step up on women’s health

Watching the second GOP “debate” was like watching a doomed clown car parade.

The most troubling part was the bashing of Planned Parenthood, wherein I watched all the clowns jump on an organization that delivers health care to legions of women and men across America.

It’s easy, and convenient, to ignore facts just to gain notice on the national stage.

But one would have hoped that the only female candidate in the mix would have chosen to step up and protect the much needed health care that thousands of women have been afforded through Planned Parenthood.

Too little debate on violence, gun control

Trump saying what needs to be said

Donald Trump says what the other candidates are too afraid to say. Things that need to be said, he says it.

I am for a candidate who is not afraid of the establishment and who will say and do what really needs to be said and done.

N.C. needs Western Governors University

The legislature has done some horrible things to education in North Carolina, but working with Western Governors University is not one.

Forum writer Herb Riley failed to note the enormous support given to WGU by a number of states, the business community and the federal Department of Education.

This is a new concept – competency-based education – but to say it has not been embraced ignores a lot of factual evidence to the contrary.

Opponents should look deeper into the university’s goals, programs and the success of its graduates, including my son.

At-risk schools need high achievers to stay

I was so disappointed by the letter suggesting that high-performing students would leave CMS if their school became a “high poverty school.”

Schools receiving low grades are not bad schools. They have a high enrollment of at-risk children, and yet the teachers work equally as hard and classes are just as challenging as those with higher ratings.

Studies show that learning among high-performing peers helps close the achievement gap.

Charlotte needs to take more of a community approach and care for all of our scholars, not just the wealthy high flyers.

Address Mallard Creek bike issues

Is anything ever going to be done to correct the deadly situation created by light rail construction at the Mallard Creek Greenway as it passes under North Tryon Street?

Not only has the underpass for pedestrians/cyclists been closed for more than a year, we are now directed up an overgrown gravel/asphalt trail right out onto North Tryon Street – with no stoplight and no bike lane to ride up to the intersection of Mallard Creek Road and North Tryon Street.

I have witnessed families with children trying to cross on bikes during the weekend. It’s a tragedy waiting to happen.

This story was originally published September 19, 2015 at 1:00 PM with the headline "Observer Forum: Letters to the editor 09.20.15."