The city has not been forthright in the council's majority vote on March 29 to approve a Sprint 55-foot tree pole at 800 Carlisle. Only Julia Miller and John Howe supported our appeal.

Among the alternative sites we suggested was Ortega Park if a site was needed in our super-block. According to the city code for telecom, an existing structure should take precedence over a new free-standing structure.

Sprint representatives gave testimonies that the city had denied them permission to evaluate the use of a tall light pole in Ortega Park, so they had to turn to the Cal-Water site. The city also ignored our suggestions for the unobtrusive placement of telecom equipment in Ortega Park.

After closing the public hearing, the mayor readily accepted park staff's response that telecom was commercial and prohibited in parks.

However, the city does not have a policy prohibiting the use of parks for wireless services. The latest admission was made by the city manager at the council meeting on Nov. 22.

The council should retract its unjustifiable vote. The planning commission merely approved staff's recommendation following a nonexistent "policy." Past negligence cannot be dealt away with by further irresponsibility.

Report RTC-05-092 contains our suggestions. Concerned citizens can give input to the council on Dec. 13 or write on the study issue "Consider Establishing Council Policy Regarding Commercial Use of Parks..." (PRD-01). The study issue was sponsored in response to the appeal by Magda Gabali but was not chosen for study in 2004.

Mei-Ling Stefan

Sunnyvale

Indicator of progress
falls back on schools

Joe DiSalvo's column ("Report cards are overrated as an indicator of progress," Nov. 23) in The Willow Glen Resident questions the importance of report cards. I liked DiSalvo's idea of specific feedback, but why aren't teachers doing that now in addition to the letter grades?

The example of the student who scored 100 percent on tests but gets an F because of a lack of participation in class and homework doesn't make DiSalvo's case. In fact it is an example of where the grade helps the high school or college admissions gate keeper decide against this student.

While the specific feedback on this student might say the child has a perfect grasp of the subject, the disrespect for the class in general results in a failed grade. This is why we need a system like grades, so that others may judge a student against the larger group they will compete against. Ah, there it is, "competition."

We do our children a disservice if we insulate them from the real world of competition. Many teachers, especially in union-controlled public schools, don't get this because they live in the competition void and meritless union system.

Let us not forget we also need student grades as a way to grade the school curriculum and teachers. Public education in California is broken and change, big change, is needed.

Students, and the grades they make, change every school session. What remains the same are the administration, teachers and methods. The taxpayers have no way to know who the ineffective, or apathetic, teachers are due to the road blocks the elephantine school system administrations and the teachers unions impose.

It's pretty obvious to those of us sending our kids to private schools what needs changing.

Steve Yankovich

Willow Glen

Grades are not archaic;
they're part of a whole

I look forward to more of Joe Di Salvo's education columns. Di Salvo's column on report cards had apt insights, but a few points did not ring true with me.

Report cards (and A-F grades) are not "archaic" because they are not precise, take the teacher time to develop, or lack specific feedback functions. The report card has a place for specific feedback that is only one part of the parent-teacher-student communication process, and has served my children and me well.

Teachers, parents and principals should be comfortable with Fs for students who do not participate or complete any assignments yet ace their tests and quizzes.

In the nonacademic world, we expect people to meet deadlines and complete assignments, even if they find it routine. Society does not highly esteem the lazy genius who lets others down because proving knowledge is inconvenient. We call them a mind wasted, not ones deserving of an A.

An F for such a student sends the right feedback; it says attitude and effort should change. Knowledge should be proven and applied for it to be truly useful.

If a child is under challenged in a school setting, the parents and educators should question the appropriateness of the curriculum and seek alternatives. We should not throw out report cards because of the exceptional cases.

James Allen

Sunnyvale

Politicians use Veterans
Day in patronizing way

Veterans Day cameand at the same time downgrading servicemen with shallow parades (if any) and a few pats on the back by some politicians.

Worse than that, half the elected political system is saying they hate war but love the soldiers--probably the biggest oxymoron ever shoved down the neck of the gullible and uninformed.

I suggest you will find few servicemen that can swallow that one. Even the combat rations of earlier wars tasted better than that stupidity.

I would agree that many servicemen never see the front lines or are ever in jeopardy. This should not make them any less veterans for two reasons. First, they are, or were there and committed to putting their lives on line. Second, they have little choice on where or when they may be placed in harm's way.

This war maybe too important the keep out politics, but have they no shame in sticking their necks into it in such obnoxious ways? As a veteran, they make me sick.

Don Wicks

Volunteer Service, U.S. Army, 1955 to 1958