Letters to the Editor

This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.

The New York Sun
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NEW YORK SUN CONTRIBUTOR

‘The Turning Tide’


This is a reply to Nancy Joyce Jancourtz and her simple solution to “the erosion of New York City schools” [“The Turning Tide,” Letters, August 4, 2004].


If the United Federation of Teachers were eliminated, how many “highly qualified educators” do you believe would be attracted to and remain in the profession?


Who would staff and develop all of these competitive schools?


The UFT was created in response to a system that included many non-instructional tasks, inaccurate evaluations, and unfair practices. The UFT does not only bargain for salary schedules.


Teachers have a strong contract that has in place work rules that ensure a lunch period of 50 minutes and a choice of health plans.


There are articles that cover class-size limitations, injury in the line of duty, and sick leave. School safety is addressed. Teachers are protected from harassment and guaranteed due process.


During my 34 years as a New York City teacher, I have seen some pretty ludicrous letters written by principals for teachers’ files.


One teacher was written up for “teaching with two handbags on [her] arm.” She also was reprimanded for replying, “I’ll try” when directed to handle a class.


The principal stated that her response did “not meet the standard of accountability for a New York City public scool [sic] teacher!” And the latest tactic is to accuse teachers who “yell” of corporal punishment.


Teachers need the protection of a contract so principals can be challenged when they misuse their power. They do, indeed, rate teachers poorly for agendas that have nothing to do with the improvement of the academic environment.


I think Ms. Jancourtz’s position comes from a place that is not based on any classroom experience or knowledge of the real difficulties of the job. It is the contract that enhances the position and draws dedicated teachers.


I do not believe that bright, competent, and ambitious educators will work in an entire school system that does not have basic working conditions and benefits contractually in place.


It is time to wake up and accept that the UFT is not the problem and its president, Randi Weingarten, is not the enemy.


MARJORIE J. LEVINE
Manhattan



‘CUNY Confab Puts Forth Wrong Image’


Congratulations to Jeffrey Wiesenfeld, the trustee of the City University of New York who had the guts to call much of what is going on at college campuses today by its true name: “crap” [“CUNY Confab Puts Forth Wrong Image,” Jacob Gershman, New York, August 20, 2004]. Bravo to Mr. Wiesenfeld, who recognized that the emperor has no clothes. The contrast between Mr. Wiesenfeld and those refugees from the 1960s who control what passes for higher education on college campuses today could not be more pronounced. It is time for the parents who pay tuitions to these “institutions of higher learning,” and the trustees to whom the “academicians” are ostensibly responsible, to stand up and protest the garbage that is being visited upon students today. For CUNY to countenance the presence of such as attorney Lynne Stewart – a primary enabler of terrorists and murderers – on one of its campuses is a travesty and a mockery of the concept of education. It is time for all of us to stand up and be counted, or to cede the future to the enemies of America.


STUART KAUFMAN
Great Neck, N.Y.



A New Intelligence Chief


The headline quoting President Bush’s words, “We are a nation in danger,” demonstrates that America is not safe yet [“Bush Backs Idea of New, Powerful Intelligence Chief,” Eli Lake, Page 1, August 3, 2004].


Nevertheless, we are less in danger because Mr. Bush has taken the war to the enemy. Thank you, Mr. President, for fighting the war on terrorism.


Most recently, the coalition of the willing has captured couriers and Al Qaeda leaders yielding a treasure of intelligence. Now we know that they were casing New York City’s financial district. Specific intelligence allows us to institute specific counter-measures.


Instead of putting the entire country on orange alert, we are able to focus on New York, northern New Jersey, and Washington, D.C.


Thanks to Mr. Bush, we have defeated the Taliban that supported and hosted Al Qaeda inside Afghanistan, and we have defeated Saddam Hussein, who hosted and financed Palestinian terrorist groups.


Mr. Bush led the way to freeze the terrorist funds of charities that supported Hamas.


After Mr. Bush took the lead, the Europeans followed.


Mr. Bush’s administration indicted and arrested individuals who worked for the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development, a major fund-raising and political influence front for Hamas.


Mr. Bush put sanctions on Syria for its support of terrorists.


Thanks to him, the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade was designated a terrorist organization and we have killed or captured two thirds of Al Qaeda’s senior operatives.


Thanks to Mr. Bush, Libya has renounced its weapons of mass destruction and turned over intelligence about it sources.


Thanks to Mr. Bush, we are safer today than we were on September 10, 2001.


JEFFREY WEINSTEIN
Edison, N.J.

NY Sun
NEW YORK SUN CONTRIBUTOR

This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.


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