NASA
End of space program is a national disgrace
It’s a national disgrace that we have ended the shuttle program. The last flight should have been marked with a day of mourning.
It seems we brought this on ourselves by believing absurd promises of “don’t worry, somebody else will pay the bill.” Every candidate for office declares, “I will fight for you”, and that I’m going to get a big, expensive federal project that I don’t have to pay for. But now I’m told I do have to pay; it’s going to be hard, and I’ll have to sacrifice. And I see a lot of childish squabbling, but the only real fighting I see is the fight to get re-elected.
I’m pretty sure I know what my first sacrifice will be. I’ll sacrifice the blowhard who got me into this mess. Maybe I’ll find somebody who can read the Constitution, and act accordingly.
Alan Atkinson, Savannah
EDUCATION
Test cheating product of flawed policies
With some investigation, you will find that there are many Georgia school personnel members who cheat on standardized tests. When you tie money, promotions, status, and evaluations to student performance, there is going to be cheating.
Nancy Godwin, Cartersville
EDUCATION
Administer CRCT with independent educators
Apparently, some teachers who are under extreme pressure to improve test scores or lose their jobs cannot be unbiased test administrators.
Perhaps the Georgia Department of Education could set up a rotation of teachers from different school systems to administer the CRCT.
For instance, Cobb County teachers could proctor for DeKalb; DeKalb, for Atlanta, and so on. We could switch it up every year. The individual school would never handle its students’ tests. We could bring in education students from the universities to assist, if necessary, and give them college credit.
That way, the wolf would no longer be in charge of the hen house.
Judy Slavinski, Dunwoody
POLITICS
Reader disappointed in president’s performance
The guest column from Bruce Vandiver (“A Democrat loses his enthusiasm,” Opinion, July 8) was marvelous, and right on.
I concur with what he said about President Obama, and his future as a suitable candidate for re-election. I believe that President Obama’s first concern should be how to protect America’s security and our economic survival — before spending billions of our dollars, and thousands of U.S. lives in wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other places.
His charitable ambitions, challenges, and huge financial expenditures should be directed in foreign countries only after we in the United States are on sound economic footing, with jobs, homes, proper health protection, and strong security. I have been disappointed in his actions to date.
Jack Shenk, Decatur
