Friday, May 22, 1998

Standards essential

I join others whose hearts went out to the young woman who will not be graduating with her class because of failing the math section of the TAAS test.

However, rather than criticize the system that requires a minimum standard for graduation, I would target the low standards and inflated grades in her academic classes.

Miss Thompson has been deceived. She has been allowed to believe her performance has been above average when she is lacking basic skills.

Schools do not need to scrap minimum standards in favor of a subjective teacher evaluation. Schools need to swallow the bitter pill of higher standards and performance-based grades.

I agree with Gov. Bush and superintendent Charles Hundley that we must end social promotions.

Perhaps a system that allows students to progress in each academic subject according to a high standard of academic achievement rather than "all or nothing" age-based advancement would better meet students' needs.

Whatever is to be done, it is clear that lowering classroom standards and deceiving students by inflating their GPAs is unfair to both the student and a society that needs a minimally educated work force.

DONNA MARTIN-WARREN

Abilene

Strikeout, rather

In reference to a May 19 letter, "Hutchison's homer":

It should read, "Hutchison's strikeout." Check her record on her votes for war disabled veterans. She looked into the eyes of disabled veterans and voted "nay" on benefits to veterans.

While you are looking at her voting record, check with Sen. Gramm's voting record on veterans' affairs. They are identical nays.

On Memorial Day I am being honored by the French government with a medal for helping liberate the French nation from Nazi aggression. I don't expect Senators Phil Gramm or Kay Bailey Hutchison to be at the ceremony. In fact, they might be up at bat for the Railroad Commission.

WALTER PRESTON

Cisco

Life in prison?

I read the article "Down with the death penalty." It seems there are people who are out of touch with reality.

To use prisons for lifetime incarceration of criminals who have committed heinous crimes is not realistic and not within proper guidelines of putting the support on the backs of the taxpayers. This in effect is saying crime does pay. People go hungry, people are in need of medical treatment and a place to sleep, but not the criminal. He is being taken care of.

When a person demonstrates he is unable to live in a law-abiding society without committing criminal acts, let the law take its course. Otherwise there is chaos, a breaking down of society.

In the Islamic world there is little crime. They have no drunk drivers, dopeheads, thievery, murder or rape. In their world, if you steal you will lose a hand. If you rape you will be castrated, etc. This may seem barbaric to some, but it works and has for a great many years. So they don't have big prisons or big jails. They don't need them.

The bleeding hearts have ruined the children of the U.S. The Bible says, "Spare the rod and ruin the child." Now we have children who kill their teachers and other adults, plus children killing children, children raping children, all because they can't be corrected by their parents at home.

Why make day society subservient to the criminal? Don't we have enough taxes today?

Do you really want to support criminals for the rest of your life - and theirs?

JACK SMITH

Sweetwater