President Obama recently said that the least-experienced teachers end up at the poorest schools and that he wants to change this situation.

This is an important goal that is going to take several years to accomplish, if at all. Thousands of children cannot wait. We have to focus on one statistic and focus our personal and financial efforts on this: 80 percent of low-income fourth-grade students and 66 percent of all students are not proficient in reading.

The end of third grade marks the point when children transition from learning to read to using reading to learn other subjects. Children who read proficiently by the end of third grade are much more likely to graduate from high school and be economically successful in adulthood. Those who do not read proficiently in fourth grade are much more likely not to graduate from high school and become dependent on society for their economic survival. This has dire consequences for every community in America. This readiness gap is a major crisis that, if not given the highest priority, will destroy all other efforts to close the achievement gap.

Patrick Coleman, St. Paul

A bad impression

I do not even live in Minnesota, but I spend much time in the Twin Cities enjoying all the wonderful things a big city offers. You have so many events that bring visitors to St. Paul.

The elevated median strip that divides I-35 heading south out of downtown is an embarrassment of weeds, dying bushes and trees that need pruning or replacing.


The DOT obviously does not have the funds to do anything, but isn't there any civic-minded person or group that could take this on as their project? I know it would be a dangerous area in which to actually do the physical work, but the city or a landscaping company would know how to handle it. What is the impression visitors have when traveling that stretch of highway?

Judy Folkerth, Hudson, Wis.

Not covered

A letter writer, upset with the Supreme Court's decision in the Hobby Lobby case, stated that men can get insurance companies to pay for their Viagra ("Unfair," July 13). This is not true. Insurance plans do not cover voluntary use of erectile dysfunction medications.

Dave Racer, St. Paul