Schools should have foreseen the digital leaning gap

Teaching our children is harder than it had to be. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram

No worries for senators

I have just one question for the senators who oppose the stimulus bill for people trying to put food on the table and not be evicted: Are you still receiving your paychecks?

- Joann Ehlers, Fort Worth

Cartoon defense falls short

My compliments to Daryl Cagle on his response to the Wylie ISD dustup (Aug. 26, 15A, “Nothing wrong with police cartoon used in Wylie teacher’s lesson”). But he and the cartoonist, David Fitzsimmons, miss the point.

Fitzsimmons’ drawing uses guilt by association, suggesting that each situation has the same motivation. It’s an old debating trick — don’t address the issue, vilify the one objecting. I am offended by the drawing, its use by a public-school teacher and Cagle’s and Fitzsimmons’ defense of inflammatory, divisive half-truths.

- James Ralph Cooke, Willow Park

Why you have to plan ahead

After reading Sunday’s story “Fort Worth schools try to span digital learning gap,” I thought about how unfortunate it is that this issue was not addressed before the complications of the pandemic set in.

The Fort Worth School District must provide innovative solutions and techniques to aid students, teachers and parents alike.

- Brandi Medauer, Fort Worth

Keep politics out of sports

I’m disappointed that you continue to allow politics to enter sports coverage. Clarence E. Hill Jr. pushes his limited and one-sided understanding of politics. He should stay with something he understands: sports.

- John Joyce, Dallas

Talk about some softballs

Well, I made it through the first night of the Republican National Convention. I took a very large laundry basket and filled it with rolled-up socks. My arm got tired throwing the socks at the TV, but it helped me vent my frustrations.

- Al Vincent, Arlington

I saw uplift and hope

I don’t think Marc A. Thiessen watched the whole Democratic National Convention. (Aug. 23, 4B, “Trump convention will look beyond base, unlike Biden’s”)

There were wonderful speakers from both parties. I felt hope for our country. There was no name-calling, no belittling of anybody.

This is the ticket that can save this country from this president.

- Dorothy Day, Benbrook

If it’s a riot, call it a riot

Many media sources refer to what has been happening in cities around the country — most recently in Wisconsin — as protests. When it involves window-smashing, looting and burning, it is no longer a protest; it is a riot. Why not call it like it is?

- William Harnagel, Arlington

Schools don’t need more now

There is no need to raise Fort Worth property taxes for schools. If anything, they should be cut.

As remote learning increases, there will be a huge savings in managing the infrastructure of existing schools. Dozens of schools have been closed since March. Cafeterias have not been operating. Buses have not been used. Only teachers and administrators are receiving their full salaries.

Show us this year’s actual expenditures versus last year’s before you ask to raise taxes.

- Joe Lopez, Fort Worth