Letters
It's just a cartoon
As a retired high school teacher (37 years of service), I have a couple of suggestions regarding a recent DeCinzo cartoon.
To teachers and their defenders--lighten up, please. As the old spiritual goes, "Nobody knows the trouble I seen. Nobody knows but Jesus." Preachers are told they only work an hour or so a week, folks grumble at dentists for charging $900 for an hour's work, and teachers are judged by laymen who don't see the 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. days at school and the 40 pounds of lab books, compositions, etc. lugged home, nor the at-home hours spent preparing lessons, tests, etc., etc. But we don't enter the profession for the glory or the big bucks.
After all, DeCinzo is trying to insert a bit of humor into a situation of current interest during any particular week--heavy-handed sometimes, but at least a point of view--and it does stimulate discussion! Just let the man have his fun.
To DeCinzo--I assume you are now better informed about others' workload, and are now aware that dealing with teachers during salary negotiation season is a sensitive matter.
Voyle McFarland
John Way
Hostility is unnecessary
I am a parent living in the Cupertino Union School District (CUSD) and a teacher with experience in both general education and special education classrooms. On April 23, I attended the CUSD board meeting. I came to hear the presentation from the Special Education Vision Committee. I was treated not only to a well-executed presentation, but also to respectful dialogue between parents, teachers and board members regarding the teachers' contract. I was impressed with the sincere tone of the meeting and the heartfelt passion of the presenters. In the midst of the positive interaction, there was but one distraction, which came in the form of comments made by a teacher who described parents of special needs children as "abusive."
The language was strong and hostile. It was a true distraction from the goodwill that was being promoted at the meeting. It is commendable that after this opinion was voiced, administrators and board members alike made a point of recognizing the contributions of our parents with special needs children. Goodwill and respect will prosper when hostilities are left at the door, whether it is the door of the boardroom, the negotiating table, the parent conference room, or the special education IEP table.
Jana Vanasse
Cupertino
FUHSD students well served by crab feed
In our generally affluent community, one might not realize how many families need our help and support. Numerous groups, however, maintain a focus devoted to that end, and there is never a lack of those in need! The Fremont Union High Schools Foundation serves the needs of almost 9,000 students at Cupertino, Fremont, Homestead, Lynbrook, and Monta Vista high schools. The foundation exists, in part, to develop resources to enhance the quality of education in our school district. One of our goals is to equalize the playing field in technology for those who cannot afford to fully participate on their own. The foundation provides need-based scholarships so that anyone who wishes to enroll in these classes will not be excluded.
To help facilitate our fundraising goal, the foundation recently partnered with the Rotary Club of Cupertino and the Foothill-De Anza Colleges Foundation to once again put on a fabulous crab feed. This year's event was again held at the De Anza College Hinson Center, and took place on April 5. It provided an opportunity for the community to come together for a fun evening and at the same time helped generate funds to support our scholarships. More than 850 people feasted on crab, pasta, salad and bread, and participated in live and silent auctions. There were also balloon prizes and drawing prizes, further adding to the funds we were able to raise.
Technology is expensive and this year's crab feed raised about $40,000--enough to provide many tools of higher learning for students in need. We very graciously acknowledge the generous support of the Rotary Club members who have helped us immeasurably in our efforts. Club members served on our organizing committee, worked behind the scenes at the event, donated prizes, and never stopped smiling!
Thank you, Cupertino Rotary, for truly helping us to make a difference for the students who need it the most!
Sandie Zander
Executive Director
Fremont Union High Schools Foundation
Mac needs improvemnts
It is interesting in this day and age how the most sophisticated producers of gadgets seem to miss opportunities. A while back my wife bought an iMAC and an Epson printer to support it. The iMAC itself is 15 inches wide, 15 inches high, and l6 inches deep. The keyboard is 18 inches wide, 1 inch high, and 6 inches deep, while the mouse and its pad take up a space 9 inches wide and 7 inches deep. The working surface to host this package is 27 inches wide by 24 inches deep, and requires accommodation for a power cord and two interconnect cables, excluding the telephone connection. Add to this the printer at 17 inches wide, 9 inches deep and 6" high with all its appendages stowed, and TWO more cables (power and iMAC interface) you have a formidable demand on individual work space not to mention clutter of cables.
Why hasn't the technology of the laptop been applied to the desktop? If it were, the capability of my wife's computing ensemble would be placed in a frame about the size of an IBM Selectric, about 15 inches wide 17 inches deep and 5 1/2 inches high, with only two mandatory cables, power and internet connection.
Such an arrangement might be commercially attractive since each work station would have a stand-alone printing capability, but with standardized forms and collective accessibility over the companies net. No more running over to the printing station for a hard copy only to stand in line while co-workers ahead of you satisfy their particular needs.
Seems such a mundane innovation might be just the thing for our Cupertino wiz's.
R.A. Blais
Cupertino
Cupertino, California Since 1947
