Florida is undercutting public education. Elections are coming | Opinion
Show of hands
Public education is fundamental to democracy and has been America’s great equalizing force. “We, the people” are the government, as we fund it through our taxes. That’s the price we pay for living in prosperous, well-educated communities regardless of whether we have children. Unfortunately, toxic politics have crept into what should be a nonpartisan endeavor. Education has been turned into a commodity to be bought and sold.
In an institution predicated on taxpayer money, why the persistent practice of putting those dollars into the hands of private or religious entities?
This is undercutting public education. School boards are expected to provide proper oversight and quality controls. Therein lies the problem: no accountability, no responsibility.
This year, Miami-Dade School Districts 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 are up for election. Check your voter registration, watch school board meetings and decide who you want holding the purse strings of local education.
Esther De Varona,
board member,
Cuban American Women Supporting Democracy,
Coral Gables
Populist edicts
I often read Miami Herald columnist Fabiola Santiago’s opinions, given that there’s always some level of truth or insight involved and I like reading different points of view. This time my insight was in her contradictions, unconvincing disclaimers, self-praise and elitism in her Feb. 21 column, “We don’t need political ‘expert’ ride-share drivers.”
She claims she is “tolerant” and “generous” and that she is “all-in with politically engaged citizens.” Yet, she’s upset at some Uber driver who she says is a member of a “species” who “politically assaulted” her with “Florida GOP evangelism” and who “indoctrinates” riders and therefore must be “misguided.” She also claims the driver should consider themselves lucky that she gave a great review and a 25% tip for being the source of her opinion piece.
Some might say, “How very ‘Trumpian’ of her.”
Elias Seife,
Miami
Shooting sports
Miami Herald Sports columnist Greg Cote should, as he stated, “stick to sports” writing. His entire Feb. 18 opinion, “What if Patrick Mahomes had been shot? K.C. tragedy latest grim reminder,” consistently blamed “assault weapons” as the cause of the shooting by out-of-control teenagers at the Kansas City Chiefs celebration. However, no “assault weapons” were involved.
Perhaps Cote should admit that he wants all guns (even handguns) banned. The problem is not the guns. It is the idiots who use them illegally.
Kevin Pedersen,
Palmetto Bay
Unfair fare
Miami Herald columnist Fabiola Santiago’s job is to weigh in on politics, but not necessarily one-sided, liberal, anti-Republican politics.
In her Feb. 21 column, “We don’t need political ‘expert’ ride-share drivers,” she whines about an Uber driver who said good things about Donald Trump, yet she trashes all things Republican, all the time. What a world class hypocrite.
Dave Schaublin,
Key Largo
Long range shot
Hats off to Herald Sports columnist Greg Cote for going beyond sports in his Feb. 18 column addressing the never-ending incidents of gun violence in this country. He is no doubt correct — many will criticize him for not sticking to sports. His critics will also ignore the statistics he cites, showing that gun violence in this country is so much higher proportionally than in other developed countries.
Besides “thoughts and prayers,” legislative opponents to gun management have offered bills to fortify schools and other public spaces and increased mental health care. Both are helpful but ignore the overwhelming fact that easy access to assault rifles and devices that turn ordinary guns into rapid fire weapons are the heart of the problem.
Some day, after who knows how many more senseless deaths, our nation’s politicians will come to their senses and do the right thing.
Sylvan Seidenman,
Miami
Decree or go home
Two years ago, Russia invaded Ukraine. When we rushed weapons to Ukraine, its military was able to retake much of what the Russians had captured. Then our support withered. The front lines came to a standstill. The stalemate lasted for months. Now, the Russians are retaking ground. I blame the U.S. House Republicans for this.
They are using Ukraine aid as a lever to get what they want concerning our nation’s borders. This is just wrong. Ukrainians are dying needlessly. If Ukraine loses, we’ll end up fighting the Russians when they invade a NATO country.
Democrats are just as bad. They know we must control our borders but they apparently see future Democrats crossing illegally into the U.S.
This nonsense must stop. Help Ukraine and control the border — now.
Parks Masterson,
Miami
Freudian slips?
I was stunned when I read that a “parent permission” form was sent to parents for their child to participate in a “read aloud” of a book written by an African American author. Students would “be removed from the class during the activity” if their parent didn’t sign the form.
Was the form sent because of the content of the book or because of the author? Why was it sent at all?
As a former elementary school teacher, I conducted read alouds in my third grade class every day of the school year. Read aloud teaches students new vocabulary words, improves comprehension and active listening, provides a model of fluent reading, introduces children to quality literature and all genres, builds language skills, promotes learning and a love of literature and would not be categorized as an “activity.” The audacity to eliminate a student from a read aloud is appalling.
If I were still teaching, would I have to send 180 permission forms to allow students to learn valuable literacy skills?
Helen Robbins,
Miami Shores
Make the switch
Consideration should be given to replacing Virginia Key’s faltering Miami Seaquarium with the beloved Goodyear blimp. Between 1930 and 1978, Goodyear’s Watson Island-based blimp served as a romantic symbol of Miami’s tourism heritage. Interestingly, Goodyear Air Base’s current 50-year Pompano Beach Air Park lease expires in 2029.
Key Biscayne residents leery of future congestion on Virginia Key — and the rest of us — would celebrate the blimp’s return. Also, it is fitting that one long-time tourism attribute be replaced with another.
Bob Ross,
Pinecrest
Highs and lows
In the Feb. 11 Herald online story, “Massive Miami makeover? 5,000 affordable apartments proposed for aging industrial area,” the developer’s rendering is all well and good for low to middle income families, but why no mention of the traffic that would pour onto I-95 northbound and southbound from this area?
Developers never mention traffic; it’s just build, build, build.
Mike Turkal,
Palmetto Bay
Short of goal
U. S. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar introduced two pieces of legislation: an immigration bill and an extension of the migratory bird act. Neither one got out of committee.
She talks a good game and I’m sure she’ll be re-elected, but she won’t have my vote.
Monica Tracy,
Miami Beach
Beyond goals
Miami Herald Sports writer Andre Fernandez’ Feb. 13 story of the Edison High girls soccer team, “‘It means everything:’ Miami Edison girls’ dream season goes far beyond soccer success,” was the best article I have read in years.
Congratulations to the players, coaches, staff and parents of this remarkable team.
Bill Anthony,
Coral Gables
Mind-boggling
Who would ever have imagined that the sons and daughters of those who gave their lives to defeat Nazism would become supporters of that disgusting philosophy in our own country?
Barry Levy,
Miami
Front runner
Following the tumultuous and acrimonious firing of its city manager, Coral Gables is now faced with the prickly task of selecting a new one.
As a long-time resident who has seen this process and outcomes several times, I urge our city commissioners and mayor to seek a replacement with previous municipal managerial experience, ideally as county or city manager, someone who has lived in South Florida for a long time, with a well-developed feel for our community, a person who is politically astute and able to handle the foreseeable storms associated with the position. And somone who needs the income and will therefore be interested in not only keeping the job but also performing well to obtain substantial raises.
Seems like Joe Carollo is the perfect candidate!
Leo Bueno,
Coral Gables
