Seniority not always an indicator of competence
To the editor:
In his Monday letter, Richard Tellier makes the sweeping generalization that teacher expertise will automatically increase with experience. It would be a good thing if this were the case, but it only works that way part of the time.
I was a classroom teacher in public schools for many years, and I’ve seen many “teachers” who have the required credential, but are woefully lacking in teacher skills. Sadly, it is typical for such persons to remain in the classroom year after year because the unions make it nearly impossible to fire them.
Many a principal faces this problem, but they are usually stuck with the incompetent teacher or two who can be found at every school, because the union insists that seniority outranks competence.
Owen Nelson
Las Vegas
Obama’s courage
To the editor:
In response to your May 24 front-page article, “U.S. officials gave a filmmaker bin Laden raid details”:
The Pentagon’s Michael Vickers stated there was a “60 to 80 percent certainty” that bin Laden was in the compound when the decision was made to go forward. Based on this, he states that the president made a gutsy decision. Well, that is a bit gutsy if there was a 20 to 40 percent chance that bin Laden was not there, which could have subjected the president to criticism.
But wait. In another article that same day, a Pakistani doctor was sentenced to 33 years in prison because he provided the CIA with DNA that verified the al-Qaida leader was in the Pakistani compound. Have we been convicting U.S. citizens on DNA that is only 60 to 80 percent accurate?
I believe the president’s call was correct, but let’s not exaggerate the courage it took to make his decision.
Bob Gatewood
Henderson
By the book
To the editor:
Regarding Brad Kersey’s Saturday letter to the editor about not finding an adult, uncensored copy of Mark Twain’s “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” in the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District’s collection: I’m a librarian and have sometimes had trouble finding the listings for that book, too.
The district’s online library catalog, however, does list 11 copies of the book that fits his description, published by Modern Library (1948, 1993 editions), and a 1,143-page illustrated edition from U. California Press (two of these 11 copies are currently checked out).
This does not count the large-print editions, nor the four copies in Henderson’s libraries.
Given Mr. Kersey’s avid interest in “Huckleberry Finn,” I’d recommend to him the district’s Norton annotated edition. He may also be interested in one of the 12 copies of the Norton Critical Edition of Huckleberry’s adventures in the community college and university libraries with “backgrounds, sources, and criticism” – these Norton Critical Editions are wonderful.
Jack Sawyer
Las Vegas
NLV unions
To the editor:
Regarding the Saturday letter to the editor from Brad Evans: I totally agree. North Las Vegas Mayor Shari Buck should carry out her threats to the police and firefighter unions.
Prices on everything – from the cars we drive and the homes we buy to police and fire protection and the food we eat – have gotten completely out control over the past 40 years due to unions and union bosses wanting everyone to pay more.
I am 88 years old, and I can remember when unions came around to help poor people earning low wages to make more money and have a better life. The companies could continue to make money and keep the people working.
Now, however, you have union bosses who make a lot more money than the workers make demanding that more and more workers ask for more money from the companies they work for. Thus we are still driving cars, eating about the same food and being protected by the same firemen and policemen as years ago – but paying up to 10 times what we paid for the same 40 years ago.
If unions continue down this path, they will break the good old USA. So, Mayor Buck, stick to your threats and get spending under control, even if it means bankruptcy for the city of North Las Vegas.
Bob Abbott
Las Vegas
Up to the job
To the editor:
I received the Review-Journal’s primary voter guide with the Sunday newspaper, and I was disturbed by remarks by Robert Kurth, one of the candidates for justice of the peace, Las Vegas Township, Department 5.
Mr. Kurth said that the incumbent, William Jansen was, at age 76, likely to retire in the middle of his six-year term if re-elected. I do not know Justice of the Peace Jansen other than by sight. However, I would like to offer a couple of observations:
– I recently went to the Heinrich YMCA to work out. Justice of the Peace Jansen was there, on a treadmill, and running fairly fast – frankly, at the pace of someone half his age.
– As an attorney, I do not spend a lot of time in Justice Court. But the few times I have been in Justice of the Peace Jansen’s courtroom, he has been alert, efficient and effective.
I cannot figure out why anyone would vote out an effective public servant. Age is irrelevant; I am sure that William Jansen will not dwell on his opponents’ youth and inexperience.
Richard C. Sipan
Las Vegas
