(NYT41) ESSEX, England -- Oct. 26, 2006 -- BRITAIN-SPEED-CAMERAS-2 -- A speed camera on the A128 just outside London, near the M25 in Essex on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2006. It's a shame that so many people in England hate them. Among the ways that motorists have made this clear: spraying the cameras with paint; knocking them over; covering them in festive wrapping paper and garbage bags; digging them up; shooting, hammering and firebombing them; festooning them with burning tires; and filling their casings with self-expanding insulation foam that, when activated, blows them apart from the inside out. (Mark Chilvers/The New York Times)
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S.J. should use all
tools to slow speeders
San Jose Councilwoman Pam Foley’s April 26 op-ed “San Jose must prioritize making streets, roads safer” (Page A6) emphasizes street infrastructure changes to improve safety. Good! But we must use all available tools to crack down on speeders.
The council should unanimously vote to support the use of speed cameras. This will displease the police union that has historically lobbied against cameras. They want a uniformed officer doing this work, not some camera. But we cannot have an officer on every major roadway; and currently, it’s the ‘Wild West” out there. The council can either prioritize San Jose residents’ safety or kowtow to the police union. Their choice — stay tuned.
Tom Darby
San Jose
Bill could build more
collaborative schools
Re: “Booting kids from class could get harder” (Page B1, April 30).
I am glad to hear about SB 274. As a San Jose State University School of Social Work student and father to a young girl, I am very invested in the educational future of our city. “Willful defiance” suspensions do nothing to help the student who is acting out, and should not be used in our schools.
The fact that teachers’ unions have not come out to support the bill is troubling. The educational model should not be one of opposition, i.e. teachers versus students. Education should be collaborative. If a student has negative behavioral issues, it’s most likely that they need support. A teacher with a collaborative mindset could try to provide that support. When a student is suspended they lose the school resources, so an adult that should be helping them is instead hurting them.
I look forward to more coverage on this subject.
Thomas Arnold
San Jose
Foster youth suffer
most from suspensions
Re: “Booting kids from class could get harder” (Page B1, April 30).
Senate Bill 274 can negatively impact foster youth if this bill does not pass.
If foster youth can easily get suspended from their school of origin, this can cause a disruption that can negatively impact their emotional, social and lifelong development. Foster youth need more consistency than other youth because they do not have that in their home environment.
Schools are supposed to be a safe place for youth to learn, grow and make meaningful connections with their peers and mentors. It isn’t very reassuring to read that the California Teacher Association did not have an opinion on whether to support this bill. Teachers guide the classroom and can help build meaningful connections and can be that one person of support that the foster youth needs.
Christina Winn
Santa Clara
ChatGPT should be
another tool for learning
As a high school student, I believe that ChatGPT should be allowed for limited use in our schools. ChatGPT is a powerful AI tool that can help students write essays, answer questions and summarize information. With its advanced capabilities and natural language processing, ChatGPT can be an invaluable resource for students who need extra support and guidance.
I understand that some may have concerns about the potential misuse of ChatGPT, such as plagiarism or overreliance on the tool. I suggest that ChatGPT be used under limited supervision and strict guidelines, such as only being used for certain assignments and with proper citation and attribution.
In today’s world, technology is advancing rapidly so it is important for schools to adapt and incorporate new tools that can improve people’s learning. ChatGPT is a powerful tool that can help us achieve our academic goals and succeed in our studies.
Dylan Moore
Cupertino
Fans deserve
straight talk on A’s
Re: “Manfred denies A’s deceived Oakland” (Page C1, April 25).
With all due respect to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred (and that is a low bar in my book) both A’s owner John Fisher and President David Kaval have perpetrated a massive deception upon the city of Oakland, and the rabid, but understandably dwindling, A’s fans.
Fisher’s sole objective is to increase his prodigious wealth, and Kaval, behind his aviator sunglasses, has spoken out of both sides of his mouth for years. As for his part in this fraud. Manfred, like his predecessor, Bud Selig, is the owners’ puppet and has extolled the virtues of the despicable Fisher for years.
Is it too much to ask that this profoundly disingenuous trio at least be honest with the betrayed and soon-to-be abandoned A’s faithful? At the very least they deserve that.
Barry Goldman-Hall
San Jose
Op-ed shares reality
of Israeli occupation
Re: “I had feelings of disgust, guilt and shame over Israel’s actions” (Page A8, April 23).
Thank you for having the courage to print the op-ed by David Matz that accurately describes the conditions of the occupation.
Having made frequent trips there since 1962, I know firsthand the truth of what he said. The occupation is horrendous and violates all standards of human rights and decency.
Liz Mulford
Cupertino