Stanford is right
Joe Nadolski (Jan. 18, “Give Me a Break”) complains that Stanford University no longer calls U.S. citizens “Americans,” considering that America consists of many countries. Yes, the term “Americans” often means people of the U.S. in common vernacular speech, especially overseas, but I applaud Stanford for insisting on accuracy. If you spend time in Canada, and say you’re from America, you’ll likely hear, “We’re Americans, too!”
As for the University of Southern California’s dislike of the term “field,” Mr. Nadolski has it completely wrong. They are not referring to “field” as in “field of study.” They mean it in the sense of academic scholars (like anthropologists and folklorists, for instance) leaving their university settings to go “to the field” to do research, thus “doing fieldwork.” Many scholars are indeed objecting to this USC policy, but for the right reasons (the long history of the accepted term “fieldwork”), not Mr. Nadolski’s misinformed one. See https://nypost.com/2023/01/11/usc-will-no-longer-use-the-word-field-over-racist-origin.
Saul Broudy
Fox Chase
Celebrate school choice
I believe in school choice for Pennsylvania because I am a product of school choice. I attended private and public schools through the ‘70s and ‘80s. Also, I appreciate the high-quality education my children and grandchildren have received at public brick-and-mortar charter schools, cyber public schools, traditional public schools and private schools. It has been amazing to choose for each of my children and grandchildren which schools met their unique needs. I am proud to say that my adult children all contribute positively to my society from the skills and knowledge they acquired at Pennsylvania schools. My oldest granddaughter has been accepted to six universities here in Pennsylvania due to her public charter and private school education and hard work. Would these outcomes be the same if our ZIP code had dictated our schools?
The ongoing debate around funding school choice in Pennsylvania has damaged our national and local reputation as a state that doesn’t value education. It has hurt how teachers feel about teaching. It has impaired young people’s desire to become teachers. It has caused division in our communities. It is hard to believe that there is even a debate when all of the funds come ultimately from taxpayers like you and me.
It is time to put all differences aside. It is time to see ourselves as a state that values high-quality education for all children and adults from kindergarten through post-high school studies. We must declare that we value our students, parents, teachers and leaders. We must empower our school boards to make appropriate decisions on the future of our schools and always maintain sight that the parents, grandparents and communities are paying for our schools. Everyone’s voice is needed, matters, and will allow all schools to create opportunity, innovation and unity for all children of Pennsylvania.
The Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools will continue to be the catalyst for educational excellence through opportunity, innovation and unity. Stakeholders, to learn more about advocacy, please visit https://143krising.com/. To learn more, visit https://schoolchoiceweek.com/.
Anne Clark
Pennsylvania Coalition of Public Charter Schools
The sad decline
In my city travels, I see too often litter and trash in neighborhoods that once looked well kept.
The litter is spread all over when the wind blows. So is the trash. Where is today’s care from businesses, homeowners and renters? I’ve been to the outside shopping mall near Cottman and Bustleton avenues and the trash there in the parking lot is ridiculous. It’s all over the storefronts and curbs. Is it so hard to just place what you have in the mall trash cans provided? That’s why they are there, right? Also the SEPTA bus stops need additional trash cans so riders have a place to put their discards before they board. Residents should value where they live and sweep up especially after scheduled trash day. Don’t allow what you put out to become someone else’s problem. Keep your block sewer drains clean for street water use only and litter free. Curbing your dog’s daily behavior is important. Teach children early about the value of homefront keeping so if they want to go out to have fun/play they’ll know what their priorities are first. It’s not hard, but life is what we make it so let’s all do better.
Carl Williams
Rhawnhurst
Bye Bye, Wawa
In the words of the Everly Brothers:
Bye Bye, Wawa
bye bye, happiness,
no more coffee, subs and snacks for us,
I think I’m gonna cry …
Wawa announced that it’s pulling its stores out of Center City. And what does the mayor say about that?
He just shrugs it off like it’s no big deal.
What’s another merchant closing its doors?
What’s another ransacking of another Wawa going unpunished, as long as Kenney has the criminals running wild in the streets.
If Kenney is not bothered by the uncontrollable crime sprees and how bad it’s gotten not to bring tourism and revenue into the city, then why not go all out for something that we are famous for: violence.
Along with the St. Patty’s Day and the Mummers parades, let’s pull out the bleachers and line up Broad Street with a spectacle gladiator show full of all the violence and gore like the Colosseum games of ancient Rome.
We already have the weapons and the participants, which is nothing new, so why not put on a show that even Kenney, Krasner and Outlaw will appreciate and enjoy in their VIP front-row seats.
Oops, one problem, there will be no concessions available for them to snack on because all the Wawa convenience stores are closed.
Way to keep the businesses thriving there, Mr. No Mayor.
Al Ulus
Somerton
About time
Maybe if Krasner would have been prosecuting the laws as they were written all along we wouldn’t need a carjacking unit. From day one he was picking and choosing what laws to enforce, which has led to utter chaos on the streets. The carjacking unit is a prime example. He waited until there have been more than 1,300 carjackings to start this initiative. Carjackings have been a problem all year and he finally steps up in the last week of the year. Way to meet the problem head on, Larry.
Richard Donofry
East Torresdale
