LETTERS: Dedication, idealism won’t help kids if teachers lack decent wages, benefits
Teachers' well-being
I'd like to commend Western High School teacher Sarah Mascioli for her dedication to her students. In her Oct. 4 commentary, "Turning kids around," Ms. Mascioli writes about the importance of recognizing that all students deserve the best education. Even with 40 kids in a class, she finds a way to make sure all voices are heard.
That said, as a retired high school English teacher, I'd like to remind Ms. Mascioli how important it is to take care of herself, to recognize the importance of a salary and benefits that reflect the dedication she is giving to her students, and to make sure she doesn't burn herself out before she's 30. There are plenty of teachers in the Clark County School District who have given their dedication for 10 years or more only to see their benefits cut and their salaries remain the same.
Ms. Mascioli's commentary has nothing to do with salaries and benefits, and I'm not exactly sure how long she has been teaching, but I can tell you that the personal well-being of a teacher is just as important to students as a teacher's idealism.
Sharon Schuman
Las Vegas
Glorifying shooters
The cowardly murderer at Umpqua Community College in Oregon had written the following, which has been widely reported: "A man who was known by no one, is now known by everyone. His face splashed across every screen, his name across the lips of every person on the planet, all in the course of one day. Seems the more people you kill, the more you're in the limelight."
The sheriff of that county asked that the media refrain from using his name or picture because it's likely to spur other demented people to achieve their moment of notoriety. Yet, there it was, on your front page. Yours is an example of media irresponsibility at its zenith.
Tom Justin
Las Vegas
NV Energy plant
We are reading in the Review-Journal that NV Energy is planning to build a gas-fired plant to serve Southern Nevada customers ("Customers would pay for plant," Oct. 6 Review-Journal). Even though the plant is not needed, NV Energy wants the Public Utilities Commission to grant them permission to build it and then charge Nevada customers the cost to build it.
Maybe our fearless legislators in Carson City might start thinking about the folks who vote every two years. If they don't, we might begin thinking about change. Thanks to the Review-Journal for keeping folks informed on the issues.
Dick Anderson
North Las Vegas
Armed citizens
Regarding the article by the Los Angeles Times' Melissa Healy in the Oct. 2 Review-Journal:
The reasons people resort to mass shootings were very well-articulated. However, we know that prevention of mass shootings cannot be accomplished by stricter gun laws or by confiscating guns from sane and law-abiding citizens. Criminals and mentally ill people do not obey gun laws and can always acquire weapons. Just look at gun violence in Chicago, a city with very strict gun laws.
As a concealed-carry permit-holder, I know that I cannot carry any firearm on any school property in Las Vegas. If, on one of those occasions when I pick up my grandson at school, a deranged person entered the school and started shooting the kids, I would be powerless to stop the carnage. How to minimize the number of kids shot? Kill the shooter by allowing CCW holders the right to carry on campus.
Trained, armed, law-abiding citizens could have saved a lot of people in mass shootings in the past few years in the United States.
Lev Schneiderman
Las Vegas
Gateway project
Regarding the article on the Gateway project ("Health care campus, senior housing planned for Henderson," Sept. 29 Review-Journal), the Southern Nevada Water Authority wants us to take out our lawns and watch our personal consumption of water. So why are local municipalities and Clark County still issuing building permits for housing subdivisions and megaprojects such as Gateway?
Denise DeBever
Las Vegas
