Letters to the Editor
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‘All Eyes on Schumer’
That Senator Schumer should know the truth of Mr. Bolton’s United Nations statements, as you suggest, is quite beside the political point. Your apparent hope that Mr. Schumer will back confirmation of John Bolton as our permanent representative at the United Nations is not likely to be fulfilled [Editorial, “All Eyes on Schumer,” November 20, 2006]. While such backing might indeed be “unifying,” as you write, in your context, unity would be on a horizontal plane. Democrats, however, I believe, are interested in unity on a vertical plane — with Democrats on top, of course.
DAVID ZUCKERMAN
Bronx, N.Y.
Your editorial, which is full of hope, good intentions, and apparently logical expectations, proceeds from an erroneous assumption to a presumptuous conclusion [Editorial, “All Eyes on Schumer,” November 20, 2006]. It would seem that Mr. Schumer would follow a course of action only if it profits him politically. When Jews were being beaten, robbed, and killed during the pogrom in Crown Heights, there was only one New York politician of any standing who did not condemn those actions. That politician was Mr. Schumer. It seems that he was concerned about losing votes in the African-American electorate if he reacted negatively to what was happening during the riots. It remains to be seen whether he will support Ambassador Bolton and Israel. His political balance is not so easy to predict.
CARL GUSKIN
Oceanside, N.Y.
‘Uncertified Teachers Performing Well, Study Finds’
This new study is in agreement with most research showing that teacher certification does not matter, but experience does [New York, “Uncertified Teachers Performing Well, Study Finds,” November 20, 2006]. The real key to improving teacher quality here in New York City is to improve our high teacher turnover rates so that we have a more experienced workforce — and this will not occur until class sizes are reduced in our schools. National surveys show that teachers themselves believe that the best way to increase their effectiveness — and keep them working in hard-to-staff low-performing schools — is to give them smaller classes, so they have a better chance of success.
LEONIE HAIMSON
Class Size Matters
New York, N.Y.
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