Ukrainian refugees, teaching US history, electric vehicle charging stations and more: Letters
Praying for the safety of Ukraine refugees; thinking of my father
March 8 – To the Editor:
For two weeks, as I’ve watched the news, I have visualized seeing it on a split screen. On the left it is 1905, as depicted in the film, “Fiddler on the Roof,” and I imagine the procession of the citizens of Anatevka in Ukraine walking away from their homeland. They carry what possessions then can. They have little or no food or drink. Some are too young or too weak and must be carried. They have done nothing wrong but they have no choice. Staying would be even worse.
On the right side of my split screen it is 2022. It is 115-plus years later than the scene on the left but what has changed? Nothing! Absolutely nothing!
In 1909, my father, then 9 years old, emigrated from Chernigov (then Russia, now Ukraine) with his 11-year-old sister and their mother to join their four older siblings and their father in Boston’s West End. I haven’t the imagination to even begin to sense their courage and stamina. The depth of my gratitude to my forebearers has no bounds nor does my angst for all these innocent people. Godspeed!
Linda Tober
Exeter
Gaps in US history knowledge due to standardized testing focus, not politics
March 7 – To the Editor:
In January, New Hampshire lawmakers proposed revisions to a cold-war era “teacher loyalty” bill. These revisions explicitly bar any “negative” accounts of the founding and history of the United States of America from public school curricula. Alicia Lekas, the bill's primary sponsor, explained the incentive behind these changes to NPR “Too often I’m running into students who don't know anything about real history…because teachers spend too much time indoctrinating students about political things.”
Lekas’ concern regarding students' historical knowledge may be valid, but there is no data to support the claim that any knowledge deficit is the result of political indoctrination efforts by educators. There is, however, a large body of literature documenting the gradual decline of time devoted to social studies curricula and the crucial historical explorations that accompany it. Standardized test-driven pressures sanctioned by the 2001 No Child Left Behind Act, and Common Core state standards that followed, have been indicated as a more likely culprit. As mandated testing requirements expand, so does the focus on the knowledge and skills they assess; English language arts and math. Increased time requirements for these disciplines has left educators with limited options for integrating historical knowledge into their curricula.
If the concerns of New Hampshire lawmakers and the Department of Education are sincere, I wonder how they anticipate this law enriching student’s historical knowledge. Why not focus on legislation intended to support educators? We could provide districts with funding, time and resources to refine cross-disciplinary curricular integration practices or expand professional development opportunities to engage teachers with skills that might encourage their students to be brave in the discomfort of navigating the “negative” aspects of our nation's history. The story of our country, and our state, is a complex one; what are we communicating to children by threatening and restricting educators who seek to help them understand it?
Marie T. Collins
Portsmouth
Beware of 'demand charges' if you install an electric vehicle charger
March 9 -- To the Editor:
The Rochester electric car charging station article on March 9 reminded me of a similar charging situation I became aware of last fall. A Farmington Road car dealer had installed a solar array and was anxiously awaiting the next electric bill, expecting to see a major reduction from previous bills. The major reduction didn't occur. I am an electrical engineer customer of his so he called me to help him understand what occurred with his billing.
More: Rochester OKs charging station: Owner bets electric vehicles will soar as gas prices surge
He sent me a year's worth of bills. Definitely his charge for energy had gone way down with the addition of solar but the delivery charge had gone way up. (The delivery charge is based on the highest demand recorded in the billing month. The demand charge is based on the greatest taking of electricity in kilowatts during any 30-minute period. The current Eversource demand charge is about $20 per kilowatt after the first five. The cost of the demand is the same for a one time use as for continuous use throughout the month.) I asked him what was different that would have caused his demand to jump. He mentioned that he had installed a fast car charger at the time of the solar array connection and that he had used it to charge one car so far. He said that the charger was rated at 25 kilowatts. I said that was the source of his demand charge increase. He figured that charging that one car cost $300! I pointed out that he could have charged additional cars that month for no additional demand charge or charged at night when the dealership was closed to avoid stacking the charger demand on top of the normal daytime demand. His solution was to turn the breaker off and not use the fast charger.
When a car is charged at home on a residential meter, there is no demand charge, only energy. A commercial meter is subject to demand as well as energy. I just thought I'd share this for people contemplating installing electric car chargers.
James R. Banks
Lee
America gave China its jobs, now it's funding China's military
March 7 – To the Editor:
It was disturbing to read in Sunday’s Fosters how China is vastly increasing its military spending. The last thing this world needs is another nuclear-armed country building up its military and flexing its muscles. It is important to remember, however, that the money to do that came from America.
In their desire to squeeze another dime of profit at the expense of American jobs, and with the enthusiastic support of our political leaders, U.S. corporations have for the past several decades outsourced almost all manufacturing to China. The proof of this is easy to see; just go to any store and look at the tag on almost any merchandise. 99 times out of 100 it will say “Made in China.” This means every time you buy one of these items, you are sending money to China.
The result is that hundreds of billions of U.S. dollars have been flowing to China, and they are now using that money to build aircraft carriers and warplanes and missiles with which to threaten American interests and American allies. Yes, we paid for it! And we keep sending them more money, making the problem worse!
It was bad enough that corporate greed led to the loss of millions of good paying jobs in America, but now that greed literally threatens our national security. It’s a shame our political and corporate leaders were, and continue to be, so shortsighted.
Jim Mastro
Dover
Ranked choice voting is gaining momentum in New Hampshire
March 7 – To the Editor:
Ranked choice voting is making headway in New Hampshire! This is exciting and it’s time for all-hands-on-deck to pass HB 1264. The full House of representatives will vote on this bill as soon as March 17.
HB 1264 is a non-partisan bill that would enable municipalities to use ranked choice voting (RCV) in municipal elections if they opt-in and also enable parties to use RCV in primary elections if they opt-in. If you support voters having more choice and more voice in elections, eliminating the spoiler-effect, encouraging issue based campaigning, and electing candidates with the most support then please call or email your state representatives and ask them to support HB 1264. This bill is a simple enabling opt-in bill that every representative should support. They need to hear from you, their constituents, they do listen to you. Click here to find reps.
Want to do more for ranked choice voting in New Hampshire? Convince your friends and neighbors to contact their representatives too! Want to really make a difference? Contact as many representatives as you can from the state roster! Your own words and your own passion about this issue is the best way to influence them. For more info www.nhrankedchoice.org and www.fairvote.org.
Cheri Bach
Portsmouth
The Kittery Planning Board needs to act on affordable housing
March 8 – To the Editor:
A recent Herald article cites a new development proposal for Dennett Road.
Once again the developer ignores the need for low cost housing and omits it from the proposal.
More: Kittery project calls for 900 housing units, brewery, restaurant. Here's what we know
Kittery's director of development advises the town mandate for including low cost housing does will not apply to this new proposal unless it is extended. The Planning Board has the authority. They must act at their Thursday meeting.
Kittery has a chance to lead. Now do it!
David Lincoln
York, Maine
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Ukrainian refugees, teaching US history, EV charging stations: Letters
