Suspension disbelief in schools
Manhattan: In the Aug. 8 Op-Ed “Teachers need the power to suspend ” UFT president Michael Mulgrew said that the city’s new recommendation to end suspensions for kindergarten through second grade goes “too far.” As an organization of UFT members, we believe that the de Blasio administration has made the right move, and urge that any loophole in the new policy be removed from the final version of the code before the school year begins. Further changes to the code must also be made this year, including ending suspensions for minor infractions for older students too. It’s time to fully get rid of suspensions for “defying authority” in grades 6 to 12.
Black students and students with special needs continue to be disproportionately impacted across all school discipline and policing categories. If we wait for all schools to be fully equitably funded before we stop pushing kids out, this crisis will go unanswered indefinitely. Eliminating suspensions for students in grades K-2 is a clear step to protect our youngest students from some of the policies and practices that drive racial inequities. Mulgrew did not acknowledge these disparities in his Op-Ed.
The changes that the DOE recommends are not a “180-degree pivot” but come from years of organizing by rank-and-file UFT members, students, parents, and advocates calling for changes to the code in addition to the increased resources for schools to implement alternatives that Mulgrew is asking for. Removing students from classrooms negatively impacts all students and starts a progression that disengages young people from their education, frequently leading to their dropping out of school and entering the school-to-prison pipeline.
It is more vital than ever that UFT leadership respond to its members who strongly support the movement for black lives. Sally Lee, director, Teachers Unite
Missing in action
Boston: By the way, whatever happened to Sarah Palin, such a staunch Trump supporter? She hasn’t been seen or heard from in months. Brenda C. O’Connor
Vlad the snoop
Warren, N.J.: Vladimir Putin is checking Hillary Clinton’s emails to see if the Clintons bought the FBI. Bert Buehler
Asked and answered
East Northport, L.I.: I feel compelled to respond to Voicer Maj. Charles M. Prignano on why the Khans were not at the conventions of 2004, 2008, or 2012. It’s simple: None of the candidates of either party called for a ban on Muslims entering this country. The Khans feel that Trump’s painting all Muslims as potential terrorists diminishes the ultimate sacrifice that their son Humayun Khan made in defense of his beloved country and fellow servicemen. In addition, such a ban, which calls for a religious test before entering this country, is unconstitutional. That is why Mr. Khan held up the Constitution. Connie Rizzo
Not the same
Brooklyn: Voicer William Stewart is “confused” because “people are trashing Donald Trump about that Muslim military family” while “thousands of left-wing Americans did the same as Trump and worse” during the Vietnam War. Perhaps I can explain. During Vietnam, we protested against the “establishment,” i.e. the government that got us into and kept us in Vietnam. We did not direct our anger toward bereaved parents whose sons had been killed in the war. And, by the way, the parents are Americans. It is demeaning to address those who sacrificed so much in the name of American freedom in any other way. Andrew Auslander
Suicide mission
Brooklyn: Donald Trump does not want to be President. He really has no plan to make America great again. That’s why he spews all that hate about people. He did not want it to last this long. Joseph Sellers
Strung out on Trump
New City, N.Y.: The phrase “No hope in dope” was first applicable to drug users and is now applicable to the Republican druggers intent on voting for a denigrating demagogue. So we have the dopes voting for their Dopey Donald. Only in the U.S.A. Joseph Human
Gravely wrong I
Floral Park, L.I.: To Voicer Joseph Fishbane: If Ronald and Nancy Reagan were alive today they wouldn’t be in their graves. Margaret Stein
Gravely wrong II
Cheval, Fla.: To Voicer Joseph Fishbane: If Ronald and Nancy Reagan were alive and knew that Trump is the Republican nominee they wouldn’t be turning over in their graves, not if they’re still alive. But maybe some of your teachers who passed might be turning over in their graves after reading what you wrote, if the dead could read. Augie Pazzo
Gravely wrong III
Congers, N.Y.: To Voicer Joseph Fishbane: If Ronald and Nancy Reagan were “alive today,” it would be impossible for them to “turn over in their graves”! Just saying. Frank Mirabella
Hey, good lookin’
Brooklyn: Hey, Voicer Zindzi Marksman: How can you say you never saw a remotely handsome President? Where were you when Ronald Reagan was in office, or John F. Kennedy? I think you should have your eyes checked. And right on, Voicer Joseph Fishbane! Zelda Multz
Kill the killers
Flushing: If anyone ever deserved the death penalty, it’s the murderers of jogger Karina Vetrano and Gerald Cummings (the Brooklyn father who was shot dead because he made a thief return his son’s football cap). There is no justice if these people are allowed to survive. Anyone who doesn’t understand that it’s wrong to take a life cannot be rehabilitated. They are vermin and need to be treated as such. They not only killed two innocent people but they destroyed two families who will never ever be the same again. The bleeding hearts will cry for mercy, but this will never stop until there is fear of facing the punishment to fit the crime. None of these murderers have fear except for their own survival. The only way to end these senseless killings so that good people can live without fear, without chaos and without having to bury their loved ones is to make these monsters pay for their crimes. Dee Principe
No royal prerogative for King
Levittown, L.I.: Why can racist Shaun King’s column even be printed? People are afraid to talk publicly about black people killing police officers, but he can write racial comments that you print in your newspaper. Can you hire more non-racist columnists or is this your public face? Darlene Antonick
Beyond baseball
Houston: Re “Mets taking pride in 1st LGBT night” (Aug. 12): I think this is a disgrace. I have been a Mets fan since the 1960s and always thought it was a family-type organization, but, obviously, with these sleepy owners, this is not the case. It’s about how can I make more money at the expense of the organization’s moral obligations to those, such as myself, that find these people to be living an unhealthy and moral lifestyle. It’s bad enough these SOBs are cheap and put out an inferior product that people are dumb enough to pay for. Now they are also morally bankrupt, shoving this queer lifestyle down the throats of us who don’t want our kids exposed and subjected to it. I pray those who have any moral backbone will not attend or support this team again. This is the last straw for me. It’s sad. Even though I have been living in Texas the past 28 years, I was always proud to still call myself a New Yorker. Not anymore. Mike Klobosits
It is written
Manhattan: Voicer Joseph Horowitz asked about a distinction between same sex “marriage” and the man-goat act. The Torah tells you, plain and simple, how to live your life: No sex relations between humans and beasts and thou shall not lie with a man, as you would with a woman. Case closed. Marion Saulig
Get an expert to help
Washington: A recent article reported that premiums for New York insurance exchange plans will increase by almost 17% in 2017 (“State health costs surge” Aug. 6). Many New Yorkers can’t afford these hikes. They’ll seek to switch to more affordable plans. Insurance agents and brokers can help them do so. These professionals have an average of 10 years’ experience in the industry. And they spend a lot or most of their time researching plan options for clients. This dedication pays off — premiums are 13% lower in counties with the greatest concentration of brokers. Janet Trautwein, CEO, National Association of Health Underwriters
