Support better pay for teachers; speaker elections spark criticism, praise | Letters

Akron teachers deserve better pay

Count me in favor of substantially raising teachers' salaries in Akron. If you want a long-term and sustainable solution for safety, talent, economic development, health, and social responsibility – lead by investing in teachers.

As Betty Lin-Fisher’s recent article points out, Akron ranks in the bottom 25% of teacher salaries among the largest metropolitan school districts in Ohio (6th out of 8), and in the bottom 40% in Summit County (11th of 17). Although teacher’s salaries vary significantly across the world, the United States ranks 10th behind Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, Spain, Netherlands, Australia, Austria, and Norway.

Akron’s publicly funded school system was established in 1920, at the early peak of the rubber era, when Akron was the fastest growing city in America. That investment helped seed multiple generations of outstanding leaders, innovators, workers and community members. I believe that in order to achieve that glory in the 21st century, we need to lead by investing further in our teachers and education system.

Our country and community face a diverse range of issues that require dedicated time and attention to address, nurture and support people through. Our teachers are leading the way by leading our children. Let’s make teacher salaries in Akron not just the best in the county, but among the best in the nation. That competitive edge will bring out the best in our students, but also attract and return talent to our community that had to seek livable wages elsewhere. Support Akron’s teachers — our children, families, businesses, and community flourish through their care and leadership.

Mac Love, Akron

Congress officially a circus

Because Speaker McCarthy is unfettered by anything resembling moral or political core values, prostituting himself to the least serious people in Congress was easy. But the chaos that began unfolding with the first ballot for speaker evokes the Turkish proverb, “When a clown moves into a palace, he does not become a king. The palace becomes a circus.”

Mark Ira Kaufman, Silver Lake

A bipartisan win in Ohio

As interesting as the spectacle that led to Kevin McCarthy becoming the newest Speaker of the House in Washington D.C. was, I prefer to focus on what happened in Columbus with Jason Stephens, Ohio's newest Speaker of the House.

As an independent voter who leans left of center on most but not all issues, I find him to be a bit too conservative on most of them, but I don't question his core sense of true patriotism. Coming from Lawrence County that borders Kentucky and West Virginia, it's nice to know that he realizes there is room for compromise, especially in a state like Ohio.

It took 22 Republicans to vote with the 32 Democrats in the House to beat his opponent Derek Merrin. One of his staunchest supporters complained that this would somehow allow the Democrats to take the state back to blue.

Such thinking is wrong for a wide variety of reasons. Since I started voting over 50 years ago, Ohio has mostly been a purple state. I hope Ohio remains a state that no presidential candidate of any party can ignore in the primary or general election.

Michael J. Walzer, Akron

Republicans can't be trusted

In the recent midterm election, Republicans told us that they could be trusted to tackle inflation, the crisis at the border, and crime. Since taking over the House (and after their circus around electing a House Leader, a feat that had been accomplished with no drama for over a century), the Republicans tell us that they’ll be engaging in endless witch hunts and working tirelessly to cut Medicare and Social Security checks for the elderly. Looks like the GOP has bamboozled us once again.

Rick Bohan, Akron

Americans need to fight for truth

Democracy depends on truth. Truth is essential to a civic discourse that can foster a free and just society. Truth is also essential to the education that can nurture citizens who understand their nation’s history and their civic responsibility. I’m especially concerned about the ways that truth is under attack in our schools. Local school boards are harassed, teachers and libraries subjected to censorship of books, and backlash against curriculums that are not even taught in K-12 schools.

This anti-truth crusade by a hostile minority should make passing inclusive civics and history standards in all 50 states a major priority for America’s future. Those who believe in truth need to get to work to enact those standards, secure the funding that will adequately support schools as they implement them, and fight the right-wing extremist attacks with which they will surely be met.

School board members shouldn’t need to worry about their personal safety or security threats at meetings. Teachers shouldn’t have to continually defend the content taught in their classroom to vigilante censors. Parents should have confidence that their children have the freedom to learn the truth about our nation’s history and the continuing effort to perfect the American ideal.

Kathy Arthur, Akron

Montrose development not welcome

The proposal to build a new Sheetz gas station and two restaurants, one of which is another steakhouse, in the Montrose area seems ludicrous to me. This would make for three gas stations at the same intersection, a serious threat to the livelihood of the two existing businesses which have been operating there for many years.

What happens if one or both of the existing gas stations are forced to lay off employees or even close down completely causing another long-existing eyesore like the former BP gas station which sat abandoned for years before it was recently razed.

There are already two steakhouses on Montrose West Avenue, a stone's throw away from the proposed location. Again, what about the prosperity or longevity of these establishments.

To crown what would be a significant size Sheetz gas station plus two restaurants at Springside Drive seems unfair to businesses there on this two-lane road.

Larry R. Arnold, Hinckley

Requiring photo IDs from voters wrong

On Jan. 6, Gov. Mike DeWine signed controversial House Bill 458 into law. Readers should be aware of this impactful bill: what it does, why it was written, and how it impacts Ohioans.

Primarily, House Bill 458 modifies election law in the state to require photo identification at voting locations. Voter ID laws are generally instituted to encourage election security, a cause which polls have shown to be popular. However, Ohio’s Secretary of State has repeatedly claimed that Ohio’s elections are entirely safe and secure. Indeed, results from the 2020 election displayed a 99.98 percent accuracy rate statewide, with only a miniscule number of votes being questioned out of millions cast.

Why then, if fraud is not an issue, is House Bill 458 now a part of Ohio law? Simply put, Ohio’s legislative majority seeks to feign progress while making it harder for Ohioans to vote.

I know firsthand that this law will restrict Ohioans’ freedoms. I serve as an election worker — a voting location manager assistant — and I know that numerous citizens without a driver’s license rely on other forms of reliable identification to vote. Likewise, as a college student, I know that many of my peers are now forced to find a new way to vote, as their Ohio college residence is only proven via a non-photo ID.

This law attempts to solve a problem which Ohio’s leaders claim to have already solved, and the legislative majority, the secretary of state, and the governor should be held accountable for their actions in promoting this bill. Readers should recognize this legislation for what it is: a political play which hurts Ohioans.

Cooper Bertschi, Lake Township

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Letters: Akron Public School teachers deserve better pay