Letters to the editor

Disjointed calendar

Hillsborough County public school leaders should thoroughly examine the student calendar. The week of Feb. 22 will be the first full five-day week of classes for my high school student since before the December holiday break.

School officials compromised with the teachers' union for additional planning time. Shortened days, along with a noticeable number of random days off, have made for a schedule resembling some sort of organized chaos.

Adequate preparation time and in-service activities are valuable and legitimate resources for teachers and vital to student achievement. However, this disjointed schedule, which surely has adverse impacts on student learning, should be reviewed.

What about the roles of consistency and structure with respect to the learning environment? The school district's mission is "to provide an education that enables each student to excel as a successful and responsible citizen."

The student calendar does not appear to support the achievement of those ideals.

MARY JO WILLIAMS

Tampa

Making money 101

To the disillusioned, unemployed young lady with the master's degree in social work ("I want to work," Views, Letter of the Day, Feb. 6): You followed the erroneous idea that any education is better than none.

Social work is a non-profit activity, not a business. Colleges seem to offer non-usable courses that generate income.

For anyone planning to go to college for the purpose of improving earning power, the key is to select courses that translate into benefits for companies already making profits. If your education can help them make more money, they will gladly share.

VINCENT SCHUEREN

Sun City Center

Sandbox politics

Growing up in Detroit, I learned to play with everyone in our multicultural neighborhood. When visiting Grandma in Georgia during the summer in the 1960s, I played and shared with everyone.

It amazes me that the GOP doesn't understand this concept. It should not be "my way or no way." All the GOP has said is the Democrats will not work with them. They are using this as a talking point. It appears they are telling their constituents the president will not work with them. But there must be give and take.

Also, there are earmarks on both sides. An example is the Alabama senator who has held up 70 federal positions, including some in national security agencies, "to get the president's attention" so his state could get work projects. I hope the president puts everything on C-SPAN so the truth will come out.

Play nice in the sandbox, GOP.

MARY SIMS

Tampa

Made in the USA

High-speed train? I don't know. But I know this: Everything that has anything to do with it should be made in America. Let's really invest in the United States. We need it.

SUSAN ENDL

Plant City