Don’t trust celebs on crucial issues
Despite the advice of the overwhelming majority of America’s medical community regarding vaccinations, a large number of Americans chose to get their medical advice from non-medical personalities like actress Jenny McCarthy. As a consequence, America is now in the middle of a measles outbreak.
Despite the advice of the overwhelming majority of America’s scientific community regarding climate change, a large number of Americans have chosen to get their climate-change advice from non-scientific personalities like AJC columnist Thomas Sowell. Unfortunately, this time the stakes for choosing to listen to the uninformed over the authorities will be much greater.
RON BROADWAY, CHAMBLEE
GOP needs to come clean with voters
Republicans have done such a terrific job convincing their supporters there is no need to raise taxes that when the time comes to share with them some hard truths, the words stick in their throats. We must raise more funds to repair existing roads and bridges, build new ones and upgrade public transportation. Grabbing hundreds of millions from cities and counties as a partial cure is one way, but it only creates budget holes all over the state.
There is one simple answer for our politicians, and that is to come clean. Tell the voters there is no free lunch, and we’ll have to pay for what we want and need. The voters in this state have supported higher taxes when they see the need. You need look no further than affirmative SPLOST votes on taxes for schools, parks, libraries and other projects. Perhaps it’s time for Governor Deal to have a nice fireside chat with the public.
BOB HAWKINS, DULUTH
Provide 2 paths to high school diploma
I agree with AJC education columnist Maureen Downey in advocating not throwing the baby out with the bath water (“Hindrance or help?” Opinion, Feb 2). In other words, don’t dumb down the high school college prep course curriculum to allow more non-college students to graduate. Nor should we eliminate the vocational-education curriculum for students not college-bound.
Provide two solid educational paths for both types of students. When I was in high school in Texas during the 1960s, students were offered the choice upon entering the 9th grade. Specialized vocational ed schools existed for the non-college-bound students so they could acquire knowledge and skills that would allow them to succeed in jobs not requiring a bachelor’s degree. For those who aspire to become doctors, lawyers, engineers, scientists or computer software developers, provide a curriculum that stimulates the brain muscle (yes, muscle!) to develop critical analytical investigation and thinking. That includes Algebra II, geometry, analytical geometry, trigonometry and statistical analysis.
Don’t sacrifice one for the other. Fine-tune our high school curriculums.
P.D. GOSSAGE, JOHNS CREEK
