Willow Glen Resident

Letters & Opinions

Speak Out

Increase in salaries is not the only answer

I agree with several points in Joseph DiSalvo's article about teachers in the April 19 issue of (The Campbell Reporter Willow Glen Resident), but I believe one major point was not addressed.

I have been advocating for years that we allow those teachers who have done well in math and/or science, and feel comfortable with those subjects, to teach students these disciplines in the primary grades. The same could be done for English and other subjects.

We have been doing this for years when it comes to teaching art and music. Why not allow teachers to teach in the areas of their strength?

While increasing salaries may help the situation, it is not the answer to increasing student success. Most people have strengths and weaknesses, yet our primary credentials require teachers to teach a wide range of subjects.

I have been teaching math at the community college level for 38 years, as well as having been very active in all aspects of education outside the classroom. After almost four decades in the educational environment, it is apparent the current requirements for a primary credential allow many teachers to get by with little knowledge of math and science.

Increasing salaries or increasing the requirements for the teaching credential will not fix the problem. However, allowing teachers to teach to their strengths will go a long way toward solving our current problems.

Ed Lodi

Campbell

Interfaith Council is
pulling people apart

Regarding the article on immigrant rights ("Immigrant rights march in San Jose draws 25,000 flag-waving protesters," April 19), the response to the march was typical of what might be expected.

As a Christian believer, I take offense at the Rev. Steve Pinkston and the Interfaith Council right-wing opinion, concerning immigration, as to what is legal and illegal.

Who would not agree with their statements about everyone being human and that they should be treated with respect? To infer that if one doesn't agree with their stance, they are wrong, is just hogwash.

How much longer do we have to hear about what Dr. King would do or say? As Christians we should be concerned about what would Jesus do and say about this issue and all issues.

Wouldn't it be better if the Rev. Pinkston and the Interfaith Council reached out and lent a hand and didn't continue to use this issue to pull people apart?

Edna Swilley

Willow Glen

Let us not forget the
lessons from history

Thank you for publishing a cover story "To Life" about a Holocaust survivor in the April 19 issue of the Willow Glen Resident.

I've just come from a Holocaust Remembrance Ceremony held at the county of Santa Clara government center on April 25.

The supervisors and survivors condemned barbarous crimes of genocide committed by the Nazi regime. In their speeches they also shed light on other crimes of genocide that the world has tragically been unable to prevent after the Holocaust, such as genocide taking place in the Darfur region of Sudan.

Unfortunately, not too many people know about the genocide against Falun Gong practitioners going on in China for seven years.

Falun Gong is a peaceful practice of meditation and gentle exercises to improve body and mind that is being practiced in more than 70 countries by more than 100 million people (more information is available at www.faluninfo.net).

Last week a Chinese medical doctor from New York spoke out during the welcoming ceremony for the Chinese president to let people know about unprecedented massive organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners in China.

The press that interviewed her didn't cover the organ harvesting, and she was told not to speak about it on CNN live show.

After World War II, some children asked the German Catholic priest Martin Niemoeller, who miraculously survived, why the Holocaust had happened. He explained it as a failure to speak up against the Nazis.

He said, " First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out--because I was not a communist; then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out--because I was not a socialist; then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out--because I was not a trade unionist; then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out--because I was not a Jew; then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me."

Let us not forget the lessons from our history and pledge ourselves to even greater efforts to stop this genocide and crimes against humanity.

Nataly Teplitsky

Willow Glen

Parking, traffic issues
go beyond third lane

The comments recently published regarding commute lanes on Freeway 87 ("Give us equality: a full third lane," April 26) are, no doubt, insightful. But they had nothing whatsoever to do with solving the parking and traffic problems on Lincoln Avenue.

More to the point, the conclusion that a reduction of lanes on Lincoln Avenue would "create a succession of rear-ender accidents" has no basis in fact. If this assertion were correct, then University Avenue in Palo Alto would be fraught with these accidents. It is not. Instead, what happens when you reduce traffic flow on a street that has been used as a "shortcut" is that the impatient drivers who've been using it have to find another route. They don't want to be "slowed down" by the congestion, and they simply go someplace else.

So, is it Willow Glen's fault that the planners of Freeway 87 didn't build enough lanes? No. Should Willow Glen use Lincoln Avenue to its own benefit? Yes. Would more street parking help businesses on Lincoln? Yes. Would reducing traffic flow on Lincoln help abate the dangerous non-neighborhood traffic? Yes. Would a horrible "succession of rear-ender accidents" result? No.

Would the whining about taking away Lincoln Avenue as a shortcut ever stop? Not likely. Get over it.

Joe Buczek

San Jose

La Concha Spa's new
project is a real gem

I just came back from the San Jose Planning Commission hearing where commissioners unanimously approved the plans for the new La Concha Spa on Lincoln Avenue.

In case anyone pays much attention to development in San Jose, most of the time proposals blow through city hall for dumbed-down, thoughtless architecture that is driven mostly by money and getting a "passing grade" to just build it, no matter if it's residential, commercial or otherwise.

I studied the proposal for the new La Concha Spa at length, and I can say without reservation that San Jose is lucky to have a piece of architecture like this added to the cityscape. Some of the commissioners voiced that thanks on April 26 and agreed with some speakers that they hope it sets an example for other projects.

I don't know how I can stress the importance of this, but I have to say, "It's a big deal."

Most cities are begging for architecture like this. The great news is it is right here on our own cherished Lincoln Avenue.

I believe in the profound impact architecture can have on our daily lives, feelings and general well-being. Buildings like this are rare and very difficult to see to completion. We really have something we can be proud of with this one.

My sincere thanks to the owners of La Concha Spa for going the extra mile to hang on to a tremendous plan and keep it alive. It is a very costly route to take, but well worth it to all of us in the end.

If you can, pay them a visit at the spa's current location on Lincoln Avenue closer to Willow Street. They are going to need every penny to pay for this one, and I would hate to see it fail to materialize as planned. Congratulations, Willow Glen.

Michael Borbely

Palm Haven