Readers write, Jan. 23
RESPONSIBILITY
Blame teens’ culture for disciplinary rates
In the article, “Race sways severity of school discipline” (Metro, Jan. 19), The Atlanta Journal-Constitution once again dances around the core issues of black culture that provide excuses for personal responsibility. Blame the school systems, zero tolerance or educators for the racial disparity in school discipline; nowhere in the article is personal or family responsibility mentioned.
Nowhere is there a mention of the black culture that shuns educational success because that’s what “white folks do.” There is no mention of the lack of respect for educators by black students or their parents. Lastly, there is no mention or analysis of the lack of childhood social training and skills by a black culture that is dominated by single-parent households.
The answer by the government is to ensure the focus is not on the lack of personal responsibility, but rather to hamstring the organizations once used to educate, but are now responsible to babysit, unmanageable students.
DEAN HEINZ, Johns Creek
JUSTICE
Keep up the pressure on probation abuses
Thank you for the timely exposé on the Georgia probation system (“Probation for profit under fire,” News, Jan. 19). The Georgia state government recently “overhauled” the juvenile justice system. Perhaps now it should address the egregious abuse of power by the probation authorities highlighted in the article.
I, for one, would like to hear more about items the piece touched on. For example, how private probation companies issue arrest warrants for debts to them (i.e., not court-ordered), or jail people at public expense for non-payment of minimal fines. Which probation companies are expanding their bottom lines by fleecing their “clients”? And what redress do people abused by the system have? Please do not stop your efforts at this one article.
STEVE G. DECLAISSE-WALFORD, Grayson
PENSIONS
Save your scorn for high CEO salaries
The article “MARTA pensions costly” (News, Jan. 19) was very troubling. Not because MARTA workers have a pension, but because the slant of the article implied that they did not deserve one! How many workers today can save enough money for a secure retirement considering the costs of health care, ever-rising utilities and rents or mortgages? Social Security alone does not meet the cost of bare necessities.
Frankly, I’m tired of articles that point to teachers, public employees and others who own or control very little as the source of our economic problems. CEOs of big companies now earn over 354 times more than the average worker. Let’s see some finger-pointing at them!
RITA VALENTI, Clarkston
