School days
Open-book tests recall memories of real, long-ago learning
A history teacher’s statement, “I give tests students can’t cheat on,” quoted in an Aug. 10 op-ed by Peter Smagorinsky, sent me off on a nostalgia trip.
In 1956,our wonderful geology professor at FSU gave that same type of final exam: an open book test.
Questions like “Why does Pampas grass grow in Argentina?” or “Why doesn’t Saguaro cactus grow in Georgia?” had not been discussed in class, but we had learned how elevation, soil and climate conditions affect all plant life.
Our textbook held the answers, but it was our job to find them.The test taught us that it is more important to learn how to find information that it is to memorize it.
The test wasn’t as easy as it sounds, but I actually enjoyed it. After all, who doesn’t like playing detective?
MARGARET CURTIS, ATLANTA
Columnist’s leftist economic view’s all wet
Reading Paul Krugman’s column, “Inequality can be a drag on the nation’s economy,” (Opinion, Aug. 11) reinforced my already abysmal opinion of him. He makes several outrageous claims. One being “… income redistribution at the levels typical of advanced countries (with the U.S. doing much less than average) is ‘robustly associated with higher and more durable growth.’ ” He concludes his column, “And government programs that reduce inequality can make the nation richer, by reducing that waste [human resource].”
To which “advanced countries” does he refer? Wonder whether their transfer payments equal the nearly $2 trillion the U.S. spends annually? Also curious why he failed to mention business tax structures, type and availability of natural resources, trade relationships, or the numerous other factors which more directly and significantly affect economic development. If he lectures thusly at Princeton, then his students should receive a tuition refund.
One simple truth, my friends. No government program can ever be as effective as your own talent, initiative, discipline, and tenacity in reaching your goals.
DAVID PATTERSON, MARIETTA
Bookman right on Medicaid expansion
Jay Bookman, in “Congrats to GOP, Gov. Deal,” (Opinion, Aug. 10), hit the nail right on the head about the morally and economically repugnant behavior of Nathan Deal and the Republicans, especially Insurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens and the GOP legislature for obstructing the Medicaid expansion under the ACA.
This selfish and savage mean-spirited mentality is exactly what the GOP is all about. Let’s see how many people we can deprive of insurance — never mind that people die and it costs more to treat the untreated conditions when they become serious or life-threatening later.
The states which did expand Medicaid have more people insured and are actually saving money and — like this really matters to Republicans — they have more people who can actually live, and have productive lives.
D.M. SMITH, MARIETTA
Hiking minimum wage raises prices too
So the SEIU union wants $10.10 an hour for fast food workers. Currently, fast food employees usually make $7.25 an hour, minimum wage. The SEIU is demanding a 22 percent wage increase. Anybody out there received a 22 percent increase in your wages recently? On the average, it now costs about $8.00 to get out of any fast food restaurant with a combo meal. Keeping that wage-burger comparison, I guess it is okay with the SEIU that we would all be paying about $11 for a combo meal. The customer will not only eat the burger, but eat the wage increase. I’m very glad that Georgia is a work-at-will, open-shop state.
SHEPARD S. AVERITT IV, CUMMING
