Pondering the Origins of Big Thoughts

Anna Quindlen's article in the July 21 issue on the use of "The Freedom Writers Diary" leading to a veteran teacher's dismissal was timely. I am scheduled to travel to California next week and take the same training that Connie Heermann was given last year.

I thought Quindlen's statement that it, (the dismissal of Heermann for using the book and training) being less about censorship and more about "..the timidity and inefficiency of powerful bureaucracies far removed from the daily lives of either teachers or kids" to be an astute observation. School Districts spend enormous amounts of money on literacy programs that stupify students with pedantic drills meant to raise standardized testing scores and ensure No Child Left Behind federal funding for their schools. Some of the methodologies of these literacy programs were designed by speech pathologists for the learning disabled, and are touted as being used successfully in prisons and juvenile detention facilities. While they do teach decoding and morphology, they are not engaging to many "at-risk" youth. However, they are huge money-makers, for the companies that produce them, and almost a required purchase for districts trying to keep the federal funding for their programs.

My suspicion is that what school boards such as Perry Township's object to more than profanity, racial slurs, or real-life experiences is the student entry that reads: "...who would have thought of the 'a-risk' kids making it this far? But we did, even though the educational system desperately tried to hold us down". The real threat of using materials that provide teachable moments, engagement, and critical thinking, is that they encourage challenging existing authorities and institutions. That's what I feel is really being censored.

Carrie Thorburn
Idaho

I am so tired of Newsweek's covers of the Obama family. What is it now -- 3 of Barak and 1 of Michelle? The media hype over Obama is truly over the top. At least we can see now that the imbalance in coverage during the primaries wasn't all based on sexism. The media needs to take a very hard look at itself and start presenting balanced coverage during this presidential campaign with a focus on the issues.

Yet another "Saint Barak" picture this week. Here's a challenge: try to print a picture of Senator McCain that is taken with the proper sense of respect, or showing him looking presidential. I don't think you can do it.

I would hope that you are at least getting paid for all of the Obama covers. Although an abused phrase, all that was missing from last week's cover was a halo.

I renewed my subscription just a few months ago after canceling a 35 year plus subscription with you and I'm already beginning to regret my decision to come back.. I'd like to get honest news from your magizine. I can get opinions from your columists and from local paper op ed pages.

Bill Rodenberg - Tipp City, Ohio

I???ve got to give Stuart Taylor Jr. credit both for his cleverness and his audacity as it applies to his article ???The Truth About Torture???(July 21, 2008).
The suggestion that we should pardon those guilty of war crimes in the way of torture (or any other) is itself unpardonable. His argument being that if we do make a criminal investigation out of it, those responsible will lawyer-up and take the fifth; aka: lie. The converse being that de-criminalizing these occurrences would allow for the truth to come out, for things to glide a deal smoother for the next administration, and to restore America???s ???good name???.
But how good can our name really be if we refuse to accept the responsibility of our actions? Ought we not be judged for what it is we really are, and are we a nation that excuses criminality on the basis of procuring image? If the only way the truth behind criminal actions can be got is to pardon those responsible, that in itself speaks volumes about the truth of what we are. Let us be judged accordingly.

Joseph Doyle,
Taos, New Mexico

My comment is regarding the Obama and Religion subject of last week. Please feel free to tell what he believes but the truth is that he has said many times that he is pro life and there is no such thing a pro life Christian. You either respect the sanctity of life or you are pro death of innocent babies. Mr. Obama has no respect for the unborn therefore I really don't believe he has any respect for us survivors from this deadly pro choice moviment let alone the elderly. I trully don't think I could ever trust a man that contradicts himself like that. He said he reads the bible, so I wonder if he ever read "Thou shall not kill" if he ever read it, what part of it he didn't understand?