The Willow Glen Resident

Letters

Our students suffer if we don't increase academic standards

I was just reminded why I didn't vote for Carol Myers in the last election for the San Jose Unified School District board. Citing that children "don't have the maturity" to study foreign languages (The Resident, Feb. 11) is so incredibly condescending and irresponsible.

Our children need to come up to the mark. The last survey I saw, California was 50th in education. This coddling, turn-a-blind-eye attitude has given us this rating. I can't believe that the SJUSD has been operating with such low requirements these past years.

Our children deserve a great deal more, and I believe that the hard-working, talented parents in this school district will demand it. We are not living in the hottest spot in America to watch our children fail.

C. Smith
Cherry Avenue

Residents deserve a quiet night's sleep

I read The Resident recently and was stopped in my tracks by the letter headed "Insulting neighbors of billiards club serves no purpose."

This letter was right on. Since when does a business of a few months have more priority than people who have lived in their homes for 20 and 30 years? This is very sad when people love their homes and their neighborhoods, and businesses come in and ruin everything.

Would those owners, if the tables were turned, be happy to have late-night cars making noise? People do go to work the next morning and have to get their sleep. I think it's terrible! I agree totally with Ms. Shanley. She and her neighbors have every right to take a stand and protect what has been theirs for so many years.

Anna Casetti
Pine Avenue

Why not put mufflers on noisy leaf blowers?

Yes, we are fortunate to live in Willow Glen. Yes, there are neighborhoods with higher crime rates. Yes, we must put up with some nuisances that accompany city life.

Yes, the loud leaf blowers have a practical function: They allow the gardener to do his job quickly and with more ease. But at what point does the nuisance exceed the benefits?

Cars and motorcycles are required to have mufflers. Your neighbor may like playing the drums, an electric guitar or a 500-watt stereo all night, but you may find the noise a nuisance. Should any loud noise be tolerated just because it may have a practical function?

Maybe next year the new and improved leaf blowers will have bigger and louder motors. This would allow the gardener the ability to blow even more debris in less time.

Hey, I have an idea! Why not require mufflers on leaf blowers? The issue is the noise, not the practical function of the leaf blowers. I'm sure someone will object, but please don't tell me I shouldn't complain about loud noise because it has a practical purpose or because we live in a nice neighborhood. It's already been done.

Thomas Sutton
Westgate Avenue

Sports help children build discipline, school pride and leadership

San Jose Unified School District is too big. It represents more than 30,000 children in 42 separate schools, receives $180 million a year to educate our children and has a problem of not listening to parents' concerns.

I am very happy that Delaine Eastin, state superintendent, has decided to provide merit pay to teachers who bring up test scores for our children. Currently, San Jose Unified wants to increase the standards by requiring more math and science courses at the high school level, but the children are not yet prepared at the junior high level.

Why did San Jose Unified eliminate accelerated programs for gifted children at all junior high schools? Without these classes, teachers have to teach at the lowest common denominator, thereby ignoring the hard-working child and the intelligent child. I call this dumbing down our children!

What is happening at San Jose Unified? Values of common decency are eroding, and concern for others is disappearing. Why can't our slow board of trustees see that achievement needs to be honored in our children?

I support the district's bringing back six- and seventh-grade sports and arts and music programs for both boys and girls, rather than wasting money on social engineering, such as domestic-partner benefits to employees at San Jose Unified. Sports, arts and music programs offer positive activities that test the child's abilities, instill discipline and promote teamwork and family values.

What does the district plan to do about the dumbing-down of our children by eliminating accelerated programs at all of the district's junior high schools? I believe that our children must learn to compete effectively with children throughout the world.

I am currently the assistant volunteer coach of Willow Glen's seventh-grade basketball team with parent head coach Pete Diaz. We have received no funding from the district, nor has the seventh-grade girls' basketball team.

We promote good grades, cooperation, discipline, parent involvement and merit. We did the fundraising with parent support and the children's hustle. We pay for referees and use volunteer parent refs. Our children bought their own uniforms. Parents and coaches have driven the children to the schools.

We paid to represent our school at the Harker Academy tournament this weekend. We have played St. Christopher's, Valley Christian, Morrill Middle School, Quimby Oak, Dartmouth, Rogers, Harker Academy and seven other schools.

Because of this program, our children are looking forward to eighth-grade basketball, show more concern for school and are excellent leaders at their school and their community.

Michael A. Johnson
Jonathan Avenue

Booksin treats lice like all contagious diseases

My children attend Booksin Elementary School. Our school also has a problem with head lice. Each time there has been lice in either of my children's classrooms, the whole class has been checked by the health clerk and an exposure notice has been sent home.

Children with lice are allowed back in class as soon as they have been treated with the medicated shampoo. Booksin treats lice the same as strep throat or any other contagious disease.

Becky Allen
Constitution Drive

[ Back to Contents Page | Willow Glen Resident Home Page | Archives ]