Modesto City School leaders give Latino students in region’s south side a poor education | Opinion

Students deserve better

“Schools’ inaction prolongs south Modesto’s suffering” (modbee.com, Aug. 23)

After I was told by local administrators that no high school will ever be built on the south side of Modesto, I suggested that at least a high school academy be established. Modesto City School leaders are sure comfortable with the millions of dollars our Latino children bring to the district, but in return they give our Latino children a poor education, they grade them poorly and put them in detention rooms.

The high school district has no business to do south of the Tuolumne River; the south-side high school students should be part of Ceres Unified. Busing our high school children to Downey or Modesto High has not and will not work. So inequitable.

Aaron Anguiano

Latino Community Roundtable, president

Boos for Biden

“Conservative Christian Republicans are “pro-life” hypocrites,” (modbee.com, Aug. 19)

President Biden started in Afghanistan by leaving behind friends and enough military equipment to arm an army. He is responsible for 13 military deaths in Kabul. Next, he halted the creation of tens of thousands of jobs by killing the Keystone XL Pipeline project and made it harder to drill for oil — begging for oil from the Suadis, causing gas prices and everything that you buy to increase.

Inflation is as high as ever; the open border is causing more fentanyl to come into the country, killing hundreds of thousands of Americans; and the average home mortgage interest rate is now around 7%, the highest in 20 years.

We are not doing better under Biden.

Dean Meeuwse

Ripon

Opinion

Stanislaus shows library love

“At Stanislaus County Library,” (modbee.com

On behalf of the Stanislaus Library Foundation, I want to thank our many donors who are so generous in supporting library programs, such as the Summer Reading Challenge. Recently, the foundation held our annual Party at the Library to thank our donors and let them know the impact their donations have had on the library and the people in our county who enjoy their services.

Library director Sarah Dentan was able to show them new books on states and countries purchased with donations from last year’s annual Author’s Garden Gala. We hope to be as successful this year when our Gala seeks funds to purchase Manga books, with the hope of starting a Manga Book Club to encourage teens to read and use the library.

Susan Thomas

Turlock

Social crisis

“Climate change: Intense heat projected for Modesto area,” (modbee.com, Aug. 13)

In addition to climate change, there’s another very real emergency with very real implications being completely ignored. We’re in the middle of a social emergency caused by the proliferation of addictive, individualistic, anti-social personal electronic devices, most notably among kids. This crisis is increasingly felt but stubbornly unseen, perhaps because we think nothing can be done, or perhaps because we love these things so much we cannot bring ourselves to view them critically, which is the mark of addiction.

In the behavioral realm, these devices of dark individualism have delivered a devastating blow to all things social and healthy. Untold damage and suffering can come from a real crisis being felt but misidentified. There is indeed a crisis that should be declared an emergency: a social crisis caused by device addiction.

Michael Sweeten

Turlock

Support for Alzheimer’s efforts

“Update: 84-year-old missing Empire man with Alzheimer’s has been found,” (modbee.com, Jan. 16)

Please contact Rep. Tom McClintock and request that he co-sponsor the National Alzheimer’s Project Act Reauthorization Act. Because of this bill, we have made great achievements in treatment and research, but it is is set to expire in 2025. Reauthorizing this bill will extend it to 2035.

Another piece of legislation, the Alzheimer’s Accountability & Investment Act, allows Congress to hear directly from the scientists at the National Institute of Health. We are also requesting additional funding from Congress that will help in our research activities at the NIH. We are fighting not only for our loved ones and their memories, but for everyone.

Melissa Shook

Modesto

Trust voters

“Dianne Feinstein misstep in key Senate committee raises more questions on lawmakers’ ages,” (sacbee.com, July 24)

An amendment proposed by Republicans Rep. Ralph Norman and Sen. Ted Cruz would limit senators to two six-year terms and confine House members to three two-year terms. Reasons for this change are cited as due to the physical and cognitive decline of some well known politicians, plus the need for new ideas focusing on the nation’s business.

But I would argue that we already have a device to deal with these issues: It’s called elections. Mandated term limits would be an insult to voters, telling them they do not have the ability to make a determination when a legislator’s time is up. Plus, there would be a significant loss of expertise with term limits. It would be a shame if a good legislator is forced from office just as they reach their peak.

We learn and get better at something the more we do it. With a lack of expertise and experience brought on by term limits, Washington insiders and professional lobbyists are sure to fill the vacuum. Leave it to the voters to make the call. It will also be interesting to see if Ted Cruz runs for re-election after his second Senate term expires in 2024.

Kent Mitchell

Riverbank