Ignore the drama at Fort Worth school board meeting. Pay attention to kids’ needs | Opinion

Focus on the students first

I was disappointed to read the article about Tuesday’s Fort Worth ISD board meeting, in which I am quoted. (Aug. 24, 1A, “Man removed from Fort Worth ISD meeting amid book debate”) By leading with the behavior of one attention-seeking speaker, who is a regular disrupter at meetings and not a district parent, rather than reporting on the substance of public comment, the reporter missed the mark.

Not only did several district parents speak against the removal of diverse books from libraries, but Eastern Hills High School faculty members spoke about their seriously overcrowded classrooms. And we learned about an elementary school out of compliance with federal disability law. The board then, incomprehensibly, voted for a “no new revenue” tax rate for next year.

These are the real issues facing our school district. Please stop focusing on the circus these extremists are putting on.

- Layne Craig, Fort Worth

Moved on from Ron DeSantis

I once thought that to prevent Donald Trump from being the Republican presidential nominee, as he cannot likely prevail in the general election (all the more true now with his several pending criminal cases), Republicans should rally around Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Having now heard the candidates’ first debate and considered their platforms and credentials, however, I am going with my conscience. I accordingly now say: “Dump Trump. Pick Mike Pence.”

- Thomas F. Harkins Jr., Fort Worth

Those hands sealed candidates’ fates

As I watched the Republican debate last week, I saw six candidates raise their hands to say they would support Donald Trump if he is convicted and becomes the party’s nominee. How disgusting is that? What other convict would you support in anything, much less a presidential race?

Nikki Haley was scoring some points with me until she raised her hand. After that, I could hear nothing else that was said, whether it was good or bad.

What happened to those “law and order” Republicans? They are as lawless as they come nowadays.

- Zelda L. Blalock, North Richland Hills

Dominoes in Jefferson’s death

After reading the Aug. 24 story about former Fort Worth police officer Aaron Dean’s appeal of his manslaughter conviction in his killing of Atatiana Jefferson, (1A, “Dean’s appeal cites 4 trial errors in manslaughter case”) I was struck again by the absolutely critical decision by the police to approach her house without notifying the occupants of their presence. That paved the way for everything that followed.

That simple act could have saved Jefferson’s life and Dean’s career, kept him out of prison and avoided the ongoing finger-pointing.

That’s a huge cost for a brief element of surprise. I’m not saying it’s a slam dunk. But we all might benefit from a frank and public dialogue about the trade-off of keeping a police presence secret and having a resident respond to a possible threat, as Jefferson did.

- Bill Lanford, Haltom City

Quit complaining about Trump

I get tired of people complaining about Donald Trump and his brash personality. There is only one question to ask: Are we better off now than when he was in office?

Under Trump, we were closer to energy independence, had a plan to control the border and paid less for gas and food. All these charges against Trump right before the election means the left does not want him on the ballot.

You could go on and on about the raid on Mar-a-Lago and the case against Hunter Biden. It’s time for a change.

- George Clark, Bedford