Teachers need more time off for stress relief? Hardly. They need more days at work
Teachers deserve nothing more
Teachers unions are pushing for more days off to combat stress. This is ridiculous. American students attend school about 180 days a year, compared with our intellectual competitors around the world, some of which have classes for more than 220 days a year. Is there any wonder we lag in education?
If teachers are stressed working half a year for full-time salaries, I have no empathy for them. We lost a year to the pandemic. We need to catch up.
- Charles Andrews, Fort Worth
You can’t delay justice forever
The defense team for former Fort Worth police officer Aaron Dean has had almost two years to prepare for his trial for killing Atatiana Jefferson. The continuance granted by Judge David Hagerman is a big mistake. (Dec. 16, 1A, “Community reacts after ex-officer’s trial delayed again”)
The community can’t begin to heal and move forward until this trial is over, one way or the other. The scheduling of expert witnesses and request for a change of venue are stalling tactics. I’m very disappointed in our judicial system, and especially Hagerman.
- Lynn Miller, Granbury
Californians, you can escape
To escape the tyranny of a one-party socialist dictatorship in North Korea, China or Cuba, one one must risk torture and death. One living in California need only rent a U-Haul.
- Roger Latham, Haslet
What a bad job out of Biden
During Joe Biden’s candidacy for president, I urged people not to vote for him. My expectations of his capability and incompetence were verified immediately and frequently during the past year, through crime rates and the legislation he and the Democrats have foisted upon us.
Citizens must demand common sense from our president and repeal his mistakes.
- Don Phillips, Fort Worth
COVID is about national security
The coronavirus’ omicron variant has emerged. It appears that those who are fully vaccinated and boosted enjoy a measure of protection from severe illness.
However, until we get many more people vaccinated, especially in sub-Saharan Africa and other undeveloped parts of the world, it’s quite likely that other variants will emerge. Current vaccines may offer much less protection against one of these future variants.
This is a national security issue. We won’t be safe until everyone is safe. If a variant as deadly as delta and as transmissible as omicron emerges, it would severely affect not just public health but also the global economy.
Congress needs to provide significantly more funding for global COVID-19 vaccinations, for everyone’s sake.
- Craig C. Roshaven, Fort Worth
Rivian would have made problems
There is already a massive traffic jam every evening on westbound Interstate 30 and on westbound Interstate 20, created in part by the huge Walsh development in western Tarrant County. (Nov. 14, 4A, “See Walsh Ranch then and now”)
One can only imagine how much worse the traffic would have become had electric truck maker Rivian decided to locate its new assembly plant (with 8,000 workers) at the convergence of those two highways. (Dec. 17, 1A, “Fort Worth loses Rivian, looks toward next big project”)
- Owen Daniel, Fort Worth
Dak isn’t worth that much
Mac Engel’s column on Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott was almost spot on. (Dec. 15, 1B, “Cowboys are in trouble if Dak Prescott isn’t hurt”) My law firm has tested clerical staff for many years on the Wonderlic test of applicants’ intellectual abilities, and we have a minimum score of 25 — Prescott’s reported score before he was drafted — to work as a secretary. It’s above average but not high enough to change plays as needed.
But personally, I am frightened to take this test. If my score was low, I would lose all my self-confidence. If it was high, my big head would explode.
- Chuck Noteboom, Fort Worth