Letters to the editor: Feb. 13

12:58 PM, Feb. 12, 2014  |  Comments

Cursive writing is fundamental skill

Lately, we have heard and read many reasons why the teaching of cursive writing in our schools is or is not important. Those in favor of teaching cursive have given reasons such as its function in brain development and the fact that being able to read cursive enables one to read historic documents.

While these reasons for teaching cursive are pleasant and valid, they are totally inadequate. Writing in cursive is the very definition of writing. To deny a child the ability to write is to deprive him or her of a fundamental right. A person's handwriting is an integral part of his or her personality. The ability to write in one's own hand is a basic skill that is necessary in life.

Why are we even having this discussion?

Surely, there is the ability in our schools to teach both real writing and so-called keyboarding. The latter, while a necessary skill, should be an adjunct to those skills which are even more basic.

With nearly 40 years as an educator behind me, I keep wondering why we must keep redefining the most basic tenants of what we are supposed to be doing.

In this instance, the redefining of progress is not progress but the very essence of backwardness.

Ellen Priest


Wealth and political power

A Feb. 10 story in the J&C was headlined "U.S. economy may be stuck in slow lane." In the article, Larry Summers, former Treasury secretary, warned that the economy may be trapped by "secular stagnation." By this he meant a prolonged period of weak demand and slow growth.

This nation frequently produces more goods than Americans have income to buy. In the past we got rid of the surplus by selling it abroad. Now we usually have a deficit in foreign trade.

Recently, a number of events have occurred which increased the gap between what America produces and the ability of Americans to buy. American workers are more productive, but their wages remain stagnant. Laws were passed weakening the ability of labor unions to bargain effectively. The minimum wage would need to be raised to $10.10 to have the purchasing power it had in 1963. Unemployment insurance and other government programs are cut, further reducing the ability to buy.

Almost 50 percent of the wealth and income in the U.S. is concentrated in the hands of the richest 1 percent of the population. Conservatives defend this situation by arguing that the 1 percent invest their savings, and in doing so create jobs. It isn't happening, however, since there is little incentive for investing when there is no market for additional goods. The wealthy and their supporters imperil capitalism when they use their political power and influence to suppress the purchasing power of the poor and middle class.

Robert W. Nichols

West Lafayette

What are they afraid of on HJR-3?

Why work so hard to prevent Hoosiers from having a chance to vote on the marriage protection amendment (HJR-3)? Why not let the citizens of Indiana decide? What are they afraid of?

The answer is simple - they are afraid of you.

They are afraid of the mechanic who knows two bolts alone or two nuts alone aren't much good, but a bolt and a nut properly joined holds the machinery together. They are afraid of the farmer who knows two heifers fenced together will not produce spring calves. Liberals are afraid of white-haired grandmas who start each day reading a little of the Good Book. They fear the alert mother who combs her daughter's school curriculum looking for homosexual recruiting material disguised as "tolerance" training lessons. They seem especially terrified of church-going Hoosiers.

Why not let us vote? The answer is simple - they fear us. Hoosiers, for the most part, detest political correctness. Our Midwest values and common sense approach to life prevents us from being hoodwinked by left-wing, extreme ideology. We don't swoon over Mrs. Obama's tweets, or worship at Rosie O'Donnell's feet. We didn't reset our moral compasses after watching the Grammys. Hoosiers are real good at sorting through an emotional wave of left-wing propaganda and finding the truth.

What are they really afraid of? You.

Pastor Jerry Ross




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