Needed: Progressive leadership
In our current educational system, the love of learning is being flogged unmercifully. Former President Bill Clinton increased funding to Title 1 and drew attention to the struggles of public schools.
Unfortunately, former President George W. Bush authorized No Child Left Behind, a test-pushing monster. Bush’s dour brother, Jeb, while Florida governor, saw the possibilities and began constructing privatized solutions for our “failing” schools.
The truth is America’s schools are not failing, but the system has been demoralized by those who stand to gain from our loss. We must stop trying to reinvent the wheel, heed good research and look at what other successful countries are doing. Finland spends less per child, holds teachers in very high esteem and pays them well. Their students consistently score very well on the Program for International Student Assessment, yet they do not begin formal schooling until age 7. According to some studies, formal training in reading at an early age — 4 or 5 — can lead to problems later, especially for boys, according to research by Lilian Katz. Other studies reveal that children are born with a natural ability to learn math.
Perhaps if we capitalized on that, more of our students would have positive school experiences and become more eager learners.
For these changes to take place, we need the progressive leadership of the Democratic Party from the White House on down. It is time to rediscover an exemplary educational system, a major necessity for economic recovery.
Maggie Strickland
Harmony
Bring ‘Take Heart back
I am deeply saddened to hear the BDN is no longer running Wesley McNair’s “Take Heart” segment. I hate to think that the space once dedicated to Maine poets should be handed over to advertisers or other interests already represented within the paper’s pages.
Gone are the days in which mainstream media printed fiction, short stories and novellas alongside local news; but the Bangor Daily News’ commitment to showcase Maine poets within its pages is a nod to that old practice. That Maine continues to support a rich community of
writers makes our state special. That an institution such as the Bangor Daily News supported and celebrated that community spoke highly of the company and its commitment to the arts.
Robin McCarthy
Belfast
Re-elect Susan Longley
Well it’s that time of year, and elections are right around the corner. In this time of miscommunication and misdirection, a letter to the editor seems warranted. The position of judge of probate is up for renewal, and Judge Susan Longley will be running for re-election to the position.
Having followed Longley through her many years of service to the state of Maine, I have found her to be conscientious, fair, a voice for everyone regardless of their political affiliation and overall a very caring person.
A small example was in 1998 during the ice storm, when Longley was Waldo County’s state senator. After being without power for two weeks, with no reasonable answers coming from Central Maine Power, I called and left a message on Longley’s phone, not expecting a return call. Longley did return my call and answered my many questions, also giving me information should I need other avenues of help. She did not know me or my political bent, and yet she responded to a citizen of the county.
Longley is running for another term as the judge of probate. Her integrity, sincerity and dedication make her a perfect person for this position. Longley has my vote.
Kate Webster
Belfast
Through the eyes of a child
To help combat all the negative political ads and talk, I thought I would share an upbeat voting anecdote.
Last spring during the primary I decided to take my 2-year-old son with me to the polls. I remember my parents taking me when I was little, so I thought this would be a good experience for him.
On our way out the door, I told him that we were really lucky to live in a country where we select our leaders in a peaceful process. After I finished my patriotic speech, I said, “OK, let’s get ready to go voting.”
My son got this huge smile on his face and said, “Great, I will go get my life jacket!” Then I realized he thought I was talking about boating the whole time. I think he was slightly disappointed that he did not get to go boating that day but took some consolation in his “I Voted Today” sticker.
Michelle Smith
Orono
Vote for Cain
This November, voters in Senate District 30 have the opportunity to elect a proven leader and tireless advocate for our community and state. I hope you will vote for Democrat Emily Cain for State Senate.
I am a registered Republican, and Cain is a Democrat; but I’m voting for her because I know that her focus is always going to be on what is best for the community and state. She’s fought to prevent domestic violence, support local education, improve public health and create well-paying careers in Maine. Regardless of what party you’re in, you probably agree that these are all important values to fight for, and Cain is a proven leader on all of them.
This is an important time for our state and for the towns in our Senate district. We need a leader with enthusiasm, courage and dedication.
Alan Stormann
Old Town
Voting for King
I first met independent Angus King when he moved to Skowhegan to begin professional life as a lawyer for Pine Tree Legal, the group providing legal assistance to Maine people who cannot afford it. Rather than using his degree and intelligence to increase his influence and earnings, King chose ethics and social justice.
King’s almost 20-year-stint as the host of Maine Watch, the television show featuring Maine issues, initiatives and rising stars, demonstrates his deep understanding of, and commitment to, Maine and its people.
As governor, King repeatedly demonstrated vision tempered by practicality. He understood that laptops for middle schools would position our students to do the work of the 21st century, propelling Maine forward. He oversaw substantial increases in funding for research and development, the rebuilding of Maine’s mental health and corrections systems and an historic increase in land-conservation efforts.
No other candidate for the U. S. Senate embodies this valuable combination of ethics, commitment, experience, accomplishment and intellect.
Marjory Russakoff
Southwest Harbor
I like Charlie Summers. He a Veteran and understand we need to protect our military.
He was also an ALEC member when in the state legislature.
He a Flatlander who think volcano cause global warming – lol.
One of the main instigators of the global warming hoax of the past couple of decades has been the British National Weather Service. Lo and behold, and I don’t know why, that organization admitted last week what the majority of Americans already know, that global warming is not real, and that the average worldwide temperature has not risen since 1996. This is an outright admission that global warming is a blatant lie, and it’s about time an important entity owned up to it. Now if all the liberals would acknowledge the truth, a major headache can dry up and go away, as it well should.
Non-religious rhetoric, unfounded of course, for you? Oh yeah, I forgot. Some denialists are making this a religious issue too. You’re the ones perpetrating the “hoax”.
As per your custom, you provide no citation for yet another foolish claim.
His sources are the Catholic Church before the Protestant Reformation, which last week he called–re Martin Luther–the work of the Devil. His beloved ultra-orthodox church persecuted Galileo in the name of “science” and put other genuine pioneering scientists to the stake. So the saintly Heistheone, knowing that he has a direct line to God, needs no other sources. By now 99% of American scientists with expertise in climate change–not Bishop Malone or Cardinal Law, his heroes–defend the concept and fact of climate change.
BDN
We spend way too much on Defense. It’s ridiculous.
Anyone who pledges allegiance to Grover Norquest rather than the people of the State of Maine belongs somewhere besides here. I suggest he resigns Sec. of State and goes and joints the French Foreign Legion.
Maggie Strickland – Progressive leadership, on the contrary, needs to be eliminated if we are to drastically improve our schools. Progressives promote sinful behavior and discourage people from practicing accountability for their actions. Because of progressive influence, people have sex, and babies, outside of marriage, they get divorced in ever larger numbers, they abuse substances, and many of them abuse their own children. It is no wonder our educational system is compromised, with so many kids being severely compromised in their home lives. If society would live by Christian moral values, children would be wanted, loved, and well taken care of. They would be a dream for any teacher to lead in an educational environment. Let’s not put the load on the teachers. It is up to parents to live responsible lives and to instill good values in their children.
Wow. Progressive = sinful? Who taught you math? Or logic? Children have been born out of wedlock for centuries, didn’t really matter which political regime was in force (probably conservative and repressive anyway). If, if. If wishes were fishes …
Please explain why conservative Oklahoma bans gay marriage and has the highest divorce rate in the nation, while progressive Massachusetts legalized gay marriage and has the lowest divorce rate in the nation.
It all seems to boil down to the individual. This is the hallmark of discrimination, castigating an entire group or class and ignoring individual rights.
Your idea of imposing religion and forcing your views on others is anti American. Plain and simple. Have your opinion, that’s fine, but to try and dictate what others do and believe is wrong and it’s, like I said, anti-American.
Sounds you just described the homosexuals.
Someone is forcing you to be homosexual? Gay folks are forcing you to be a certain way? You and folks who think like you are the reason this country is on the skids.
The fact that gay people exist doesn’t mean they’re trying to convert you.
Man, are you off. Ms. Strickland is exactly right. Going backwards is not going to help us stay competitive in a changing world.
Dare I ask who would impose the “corrective measures” when people strayed from your version of Christian moral values?
Heistheone:
I agree – holy conservative government needs to enforce good moral behavior in the home!
Like they do in Iran.
and we can learn a lot from the Taliban.
not
BDN
Yes but you’re forgetting the shame factor. Many religions can’t function without it. They see their power slipping away.
He is also under contract to ALEC and Grover Norquist. I don’t want anyone in office that has their hands tied by any outside organization or individual. Lee Harvey Oswald was a veteran. Not saying that Charlie Summers is an assasin, just that being a veteran is not in and of itself a qualification.
Good letters all.
Maggie Strickland – You want better schools? It’s easy. Eliminate the Education Department and the teachers’ unions and put the schools back in the hands of the individual states.
By the way, No Child Left Behind was co-authored by Ted Kennedy, a big time progressive Democrat.
And, as a last note, Progressives are killing this great nation. The progressives have to be voted out before you and all the rest of us are citizens of a fallen country.
Sorry EJ, but this great nation (and I truly believe it still is and can continue to be) is being ruined because the middle class is being destroyed by unregulated corporate greed and by those of you who don’t seem to get that we need to change some things to keep up with the rest of the world. Just being the stongest militaru power is enough.
Just in Obama’s first term, the middle class has been decimated, and that’s been part of his plan. He wants more people depending on the government. He wants less opportunities. He wants a weak military. He wants America punished for being so great. Just watch “2016” and you’ll have a better idea of Obama’s ideology. It’s not good for America. He has to go.