Letters to the Editor: March 11-17, 2021

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The Editor:

This is for the car guy Doug Dahl. Recently, I purchased a 2019 Subaru. It is the first automatic transmission in my life (I’m 75). After three weeks, my right hand still gravitates to the shift handle and my left leg has gotten shorter by 1/2 inch due to lack of use with a clutch. The dash console has so many colors, displays, and warning sounds that it makes me feel as though I am back in the ’60s.

I do like the backup screen so I can see what it is that I have slammed into without having to get out of the car to look. I told a neighbor that in making an offer in price to the salesman I said, “This is the closest this retired teacher will ever get to a BMW.” She laughed and said that what I have is a BAW (bells and whistles).

Richard Mollette

Custer

 

The Editor:

School teaches to the intellect and leaves out the heart. Every child comes into this world created with their own natural gifts and talents, what it is they love to do that stems from the heart. But school has become a drudgery with an overload of too much detailed learning, too much testing and way too much homework. High school seniors can have up to seven hours of classwork and three hours of homework, looking at a computer screen for 10 hours a day. It is no longer a quality education because the quantity of information students are expected to learn is off the charts.

When we are stressed the brain releases different chemicals that doesn’t allow it to focus properly or think clearly. Because of this fact, school undermines its own objectives because of all the stress it creates making it even harder for students to process the information they are expected to learn. It is tragic students are made to feel their worth is based on their grades, and so much pressure to get good grades so they can go on to college. The U.S. now has $1.7 trillion in student loan debt. Four-year graduates can’t get jobs in their majors so they take minimum wage jobs and owe $100,000 in student loans.

“Kids Under Pressure” on NBC Nightly News reported “Most students feel a crushing burden from pandemic learning from the massive work load.” Some Blaine schools have only one counselor overseeing as many as 400 students. This is a tragedy in itself. It reveals a blatant disregard on the part of the schools for their lack of prioritizing the importance of our children’s emotional well-being and mental health.

Surveys have revealed students have had suicidal thoughts because they were under so much stress and feel hopeless. Those numbers have gone up. Parents, teachers and school administrators … take notice. I am sure you will agree that no amount of education is worth losing a child’s life.

Cindy Kisska

Birch Bay

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