All students entitled to safe learning environment
In reference to( “A new segregation,” News, May 1), who speaks for the two children struck in the face with rocks by David, or the other students terrorized by that child? Who speaks for the special-needs teachers and paraprofessionals kicked, punched and spat upon by David and who are barred by “privacy concerns” from commenting on the incidents or the inference of racism? Who speaks for the other special needs or average students whose valuable classroom time is disrupted by David’s uncontrollable behavior? Yes, the moral test of a society is how it treats the handicapped, but society also has the obligation and the need to provide the best educational opportunity for other students. Regardless of whether David’s conduct is the result of autism, a behavioral problem, a psychological problem or some other issue, the other students are entitled to a meaningful learning experience in a safe, non-disrupted environment.
TIM HEWETT, TUCKER
Eminent domain push goes too far
Eminent domain usually refers to a government’s right to appropriate property of private citizens for the public good. But Spectral Energy, a private company from Texas, is attempting to use it to take property rights from Georgia landowners to construct a pipeline that will transport natural gas to customers in Florida. In Georgia, it will cross thousands of acres of sensitive wetlands, two state parks and burrow beneath five rivers. Last week, a pipeline owned by Spectral exploded in Pennsylvania, and the limestone soil in the pipeline’s Georgia path is particularly unsuited to prevent leaks from such accidents from seeping into the groundwater. Eminent domain is a beneficial tool of government, but it has a limit. I don’t know exactly where that limit should be placed, but it’s clearly somewhere far short of this attempted use.
MICHAEL WALLS, ATLANTA
Gun-owning parents must be responsible
It’s one thing to possess a firearm for one’s safety, but when you put your own family at risk, then there is something wrong there. Too often lately there seems to be a problem whereby a youngster — sometimes of school age or even younger — finds a gun, pulls the trigger and ends up killing or injuring a sibling. There has got to be some kind of training as to the proper procedure for securing firearms, so that the immediate family is not endangered. Too many people are simply too nonchalant in their attitude about gun safety. If a parent is not responsible enough to keep firearms away from underaged family members, then they should be punished by the law, in addition to the damage that has been done to a member of their family by another member of their family.
DAVID CLARKE, BUFORD
Looks to be long summer for Braves
The Braves are really bad. It will be a long summer for Braves fans. However, as a lifelong Braves fan, I am optimistic for the future as the Braves have some good, young pitchers, have restocked their farm system, and the new SunTrust Field in Cobb County figures to be one of the premier stadiums in all of Major League Baseball. In the meantime, Braves fans can enjoy the broadcast work of Chip Carey and Joe Simpson. They are excellent. Watching Braves broadcasts with Chip and Joe is enjoyable even when the Braves are losing. To be sure, Major League Baseball has been devastated by the obscene player salaries. Still, Braves baseball is a lot of fun. You gotta keep the faith.
WALTER KEITH, ATLANTA
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