Jim Arnold’s “Letter to Washington” is somewhat disingenuous, and I recommend that Mr. Arnold and your readers take the time to read an excellent article, “The Failure of American Schools,” written by Joel Klein, former chancellor of New York City’s school system, in the June issue of Atlantic Magazine.

Mr. Klein points out that The World Economic Forum ranks our schools 48th in math and science education, certainly not something to be proud of, and he lays out reasons why this has come to pass. Certainly there are numerous reasons why our educational system is failing, and Mr. Klein lays the blame at the feet of the teachers unions who are opposing meaningful reform, and the politicians for being fearful of the political power of the unions, and therefore being reluctant to push for reform.

Indeed it is a vicious circle. For Mr. Arnold to suggest that “to begin a national conversation on teaching and learning and helping kids” should not begin “with the ‘failure’ of public education or discussion about ‘bad teachers’” is precisely the point on which Mr. Klein wishes to engage the public. Mr. Klein is telling us we need to change the status quo that is endemic in our educational system in order to be number one in math and science. The continued success of our country demands that we do so.

Robert Goddard

Columbus

Clueless

Obama said on TV a few nights ago that high gas prices and record profits by the oil companies have to stop. He did forget to say when they would stop. Don’t expect anything soon. I think the oil companies showed him who the boss (or should I say who the bosses are), and he was not anywhere in the picture. When is he going to start doing his job or at least try to do this job, or does he even know what being president means? I don’t think so!

Ronald A. Gunn

Phenix City

Saving other lives

There are three things that could have allowed Natalie Windham to be alive today. The law can address only one, the unsafe lane change, but let’s try to learn from all three.

It’s been a week now, and no article has been able to confirm proper seat belt usage. WTVM mentioned the possible putting of the shoulder belt under her arm or behind her body. An accident of this sort is typically survivable with correct seat belt use. Driving is taken very casually today, but it remains a potentially dangerous activity.

The third is government inaction: The Bradley Park interchange has been dangerous for my six years here.

To save a million dollar study, here is how to fix it for good (and cheaply):

1. Close the westbound ramp to southbound Bradley Park Drive. (Very dangerous curve on that ramp) 2. Modify the westbound ramp to Bradley Park northbound into a stoplight intersection, to cover both north- and southbound traffic. Add a left turn lane or two to the exit. Use the westbound Moon Road exit as a model. 3. Now, with the exit removed, extend the merging lane for the traffic coming onto the highway.

We cannot bring Natalie back, but we can work to prevent future tragedies like hers.

Richard Lemieux

Midland

‘Freeze’ compromise

With the full realization that a true “compromise” pleases virtually no one, but could actually provide a solution, it is appropriate to offer one in the property tax exemption debate.

First, several stipulations. Let’s all agree that for one of two, relatively the same houses, sitting side by side, to pay three or four times the amount of property taxes of the other is blatantly unfair.

Next, let’s agree that it would be financially devastating, if not a catastrophic, to arbitrarily eliminate the exemption, with a corresponding leap in property taxes for longtime homeowners. Senior citizens living on fixed incomes would be placed in danger of losing their homes.

Finally, Realtors have told me that houses in Columbus turn over (are bought and sold) every seven to eight years, thereby losing the exemption. Additional owners lose their exemption when remodeling, adding a room or in some other way changing the footprint of their home.

So what’s the compromise?

Eliminate the exemption as of a date certain for all future homeowners. But -- and a very important but -- “grandfather” in all those who currently have the exemption, allowing them to retain it until they sell, modify or move from their homes. Given the historic turnover in homes, undoubtedly to be accelerated by the BRAC, in time we will work our way out of the problem. Had this type of program been implemented years ago, we wouldn’t be in the situation we are today.

Not a perfect solution, to be sure, but better than anything proposed so far and certainly better than doing nothing except arguing about it.

Ron West

Columbus