EDUCATION
We should make up lost days in February
In response to “Missed school hard to make up” (News, Feb. 17) and “Snowed under” (Opinion, Feb. 17) regarding snow days and whether or when they should be made up, I was quite surprised to learn that several districts are taking off the entire week of Feb. 17. I had been under the impression that the reason February holidays were originally included in school calendars was to have them designated for make-up days when needed.
To now be considering canceling spring break instead of using the February days doesn’t make sense to me. I would love to hear the various school superintendents explain why it was in the students’ best interest to give them another week off, immediately following four days missed the previous week, not to mention those missed during the last week of January.
DIANE TORRES, DOUGLASVILLE
DEKALB COUNTY
Disturbing testimony on corruption inquiry
The two versions of events surrounding the DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis investigation given by District Attorney Robert James and his former top assistant, Don Geary, are irreconcilable (“DA, ex-top aide: Who’s telling truth?” News, Feb. 17). One or the other is being untruthful.
All prosecutors take an oath to uphold the U.S. and Georgia constitutions. They are prohibited from using illegal means in the investigation and prosecution of crimes. They have a duty to protect the innocent, which is equally strong as the duty to prosecute the guilty.
I have no insight into how the investigation was conducted. Nor do I know whether Mr. Ellis committed the crimes of which he has been accused. I do know, however, that if he did, they are minor compared to a prosecutor’s alleged use of illegal means to secure a conviction against a citizen and then denying it under oath. The implications are larger than the Burrell Ellis case. Every citizen is at risk if law enforcement violates criminal laws in its pursuit of one citizen.
RICHARD T. TAYLOR, ATLANTA
FEDERAL AID
Georgia shouldn’t get storm-related funding
Gov. Nathan Deal says he hopes the federal government will help the state of Georgia with costs incurred during the latest ice/snow storm. Here’s a question the media must ask Deal: What right does Georgia have to ask the federal government for money to offset its costs of storm-related expenses while it is deliberately refusing money the federal government is offering needy citizens of Georgia to cover their access to life-sustaining and life-saving health care? Why should replenishing the state’s coffers with federal money take precedence over the lives of hundreds of thousands of citizens? The federal government should refuse financial assistance of any kind to Georgia and other states withholding free health care from needy citizens.
MINNIE JONES, JONESBORO
