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No Lag in Great Schools
I read with interest Joe Sullivan’s commentary in the Aug. 5 edition of Metro Pulse concerning the lagging great schools initiative. Mr. Sullivan’s assertions are based on incomplete information.
The Every School a Great School initiative is not lagging. I was a member of the school system’s development committee for the kindergarten intervention initiative that Mr. Sullivan describes as to be implemented in school year 2004-2005. The activities planned for this phase of the implementation are teacher training and hiring and training 47 teacher aids to work with kindergarten teachers to implement the program. It was never envisioned that this program would be in place and fully implemented for the beginning of the 2004-2005 school year.
Additionally, it would not be appropriate for the school system to move forward with this phase of the program before the Board of Education approves such an action. It would also not be prudent to begin hiring 47 employees and training teachers before the money for that activity is in school system accounts.
I do not see the “slippage” or “disconnect” between the school system and the county that Mr. Sullivan describes. As the individual who will be largely responsible for orchestrating the implementation of the curricular aspects of Every School a Great School, I can assure you that we will move forward with each initiative as it is properly approved and funded.
Donna Wright, Ed. D
Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction
Knox County Schools
Knoxville’s Weakly Voice
Thanks to Metro Pulse—or, was it the Knoxville News Sentinel?—I know who to vote for and what to wear back to school.
Alas, I am not going back to school, and I have somehow managed to lose the one sentence I clipped that was devoted to 9th District Knox County Commission candidate, Martin Pleasant.
At the risk of falling into the egotistical rut that so frequently disgraces MP pages, I will quote one of my own poems, “the best of Knoxville is not good enough, not green enough...”
Who took the “alternative” out of Knoxville’s “alternative” voice? When did Metro Pulse become just a “weakly” voice? Why is Metro Pulse’s voice so weak—and, becoming weaker?
Donna Doyle
Knoxville
Suicide in Knoxville
Very good article [July 29] by Mr. Neely.... [It] could have expanded on Mr. Frank’s vision for new and future library.
Just like the interstate ramps and overpasses gripped the throat of downtown; just like the goodbye of trolleys brought the cancer of car lots to the lungs of downtown; just like the sale of the rail stations amputated the legs of downtown; just like the paving of First and Second Creeks made a desert on the face of downtown; just now with hopeful signs of life we come to the door to face another murderous threat.
The end will come when we abandon our Main Library. We will at last stop the heart and evict the soul of downtown. And I’m reminded of lines by Knoxville’s own Homer & Jethro when they sang: “You’ve done stomped upon my heart, and you mashed that sucker flat. You just sorta walked on my aorta.”
Henry A. Hankal
Knoxville
Checks and Balances
Steve Dupree’s column “Terror is a Tactic” is correct. It is absolutely unpatriotic to be unwilling to criticize our government at any level when needed.
We, as citizens, are responsible for providing the check and balance.
JaNell Golden
Knoxville
Evils and Lessers
Hey, maybe the Democrats and Peaceniks are right, and the war is wrong. Maybe women in the Middle East shouldn’t have equality. Maybe we’re all Amish who ride horses and we don’t need a secure source of oil. Maybe we shouldn’t engage the terrorists half a world away but should allow them to wreak havoc here. Maybe we should vote for John Kerry, who has changed his positions so often that he must be dizzy from the spin.
As always, I am forced to vote for the lesser of the evils, and that is Bush. However, if Kerry wins at least Hillary won’t run in ’08.
John R. Snyder
Knoxville
Latte not Required
Kudos to Jack Neely for providing us with a thorough article outlining a controversial issue, this time the proposed new downtown library. I think a new downtown library is necessary, a good use of my tax dollars, and a great investment in our future.
I have personally benefited from the hundreds of materials I borrow every year, the programming that I have enjoyed, and the website that makes the library accessible and convenient. I have stood in line at my library and watched public school children checking out their summer reading list books, adults signing up to wait for an available computer, and preschooler’s eyes opening to the wonders of the printed and illustrated world.
Although I regularly use my branch library, I also frequently use the downtown library. My husband and I make regular use of the extensive AudioVisual collection. (Videos are only $1 for a Thursday-Monday rental period!) Furthermore, there’s nothing that can compare to taking my children to the children’s room at the downtown library where they can browse the extensive collection of books, work a few puzzles, play with the puppets, and then walk down the street with me to Market Square.
Maybe the citizens that whine that the central library should be located further out west, need to come downtown for something other than a football game. Entire families can actually roam the streets spontaneously partaking of the locally owned restaurants, cheap parking, beautiful Krutch park, water fountains, outdoor music and yes, the public library. You can have an enjoyable family-oriented time on the town for free - even when Sundown in the City isn’t running.
Long before Barnes and Noble and Borders Books and Music there was, and still is, our public downtown library serving us with resources, programming, and services for a modest tax per capita. Purchase of latte not required.
But maybe it’s too late to enlighten the “west-o-centric” Knoxvillians about the rest of the community located at other compass points. (Our own daily newspaper still has not found room to include North Knox and East Knox in their community section!) Anyone wanting to locate the new central library someplace other than downtown clearly does not have the best interest of all of the Knox County residents in mind.
So here’s to a new downtown library that will represent the desire of enlightened taxpayers from all over Knox County that value our basic American tenets—knowledge of life, the cost of liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Karen Dhyanchand
Knoxville, TN
Wrong Goliath There
I read with a great deal of amusement your rant regarding the “goliath” Knoxville News Sentinel’s new website (www.govolsxtra.com) that was taking on the “David” website created by Brent Hubbs (Hook ‘em, Hubbs—Ear to the Ground Aug. 5).
An intellectual property grab? I haven’t heard that phrase used since the late night trials and tribulations of David Letterman moving his show to CBS, and it is as non-viable here as it was there. Is there anything involved with UT athletics that someone, somewhere hasn’t tried before?
And, after looking at Mr. Hubbs’ website, my definition of David must be a little different from yours. His website proudly trumpets the fact that they are a part of Rivals.com, an organization that, according to their website:
“Serving millions of readers, Rivals.com provides the premier membership experience for passionate college sports fans.
“Based in Brentwood, Tenn., Rivals.com is the online leader in its market, with a nationwide network of college, high school, and recruiting sites, providing exclusive and in-depth team coverage as well as the ultimate team experience and community interaction.”
Having read your publication since I came to Knoxville, I know that you enjoy taking potshots at the News Sentinel now and then. But when you decide to shoot with your slingshot, make sure that you have a reason to fire in the first place.
C. Bates
Knoxville
August 19, 2004 • Vol. 14, No. 34
© 2004 Metro Pulse
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