Letter writers voice concerns about a dangerous stretch of highway, a teaching philosophy and county taxes

Published 1:30 pm Saturday, July 13, 2019

Letters to the Editor

Right now my blood is boiling, I’m so angry. There has been another vehicle accident near my home, Highway 64 East and County Road 289. A very dangerous intersection as the speed limit on 64 E is 65 miles per hour and most are traveling faster.

I have made complaints in the past and nobody listens, like D.C. I’ve lived here since 1978 and it is getting worse. Chapel Hill schools are on this highway and students attending UT coming from Arp, Henderson, etc. are on it, too.



Let’s talk about the oil tankers that I see on this road. Are we waiting for one of these “bombs” to hit a school bus full of children?

Whoever is in charge of this fiasco, … fix this accident waiting to happen.

And where is the Texas Highway Patrol? Don’t they have a voice since they are the ones who are called when these accidents happen?

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Ann Mitchell

Tyler

WRONG FORMULA

I have a very serious concern about the new teaching philosophy that was initiated last fall at Bullard High School. Let me explain. This theory is based on a book titled “The Fundamental 5, THE FORMULA for Quality Instruction” (emphasis mine), by Sean Cain and Mike Laird, which is the product of an organization called “Lead Your School.”

The system is built on the premise that this is THE ONLY method of teaching that will have positive results and presumes that all teachers must teach EXACTLY the same way regardless of the subject matter, makeup of the class or personality of the teacher. Further, the system is founded on the notion that all teachers are lazy, poorly prepared and must be driven by constant administrative supervision to do their jobs.

As a classroom teacher, I have always considered the campus administration to be a support system for those of us in the classrooms. Under “The Fundamental 5” philosophy, however, administrators and teachers are cast in adversarial rolls. Class observations are now called “Power Walks,” and failure to conform to the requirements laid out in THE BOOK will result in poor evaluation scores.

Here’s my concern. Veteran teachers who will not kowtow to the enforcers of the administration’s flawed policy will have little choice but to leave. Once gone, it will take years — if not decades — to replace them.

My grandchildren will soon be on the high school campus and I want them to experience learning under the instruction of enthusiastic, well-trained teachers who teach because they love teaching. If you have children in Bullard ISD and agree that “The Fundamental 5” philosophy is doing great damage to the morale of the high school faculty, please contact the Bullard ISD board members to let them know where you stand on this issue.

Charles W. Turner

Bullard

COUNTY ROADS AND TAXES

My heartfelt thanks to Frank Davis, county engineer, who has come in well under budget in fixing Smith County roads on behalf of all of hardworking Smith County taxpayers. We truly thank him for doing his job so well.

However, I do not have the same praise for Judge Nathaniel Moran, who seems to believe the rate for Smith County taxpayers should be raised to accommodate his wish list. He receives a raise in taxes every year for Smith County from the following:

1. The constant raising of the evaluations of properties, giving automatic raises in taxes.

2. All new homes and buildings, and improvements to homes and buildings, added to the tax roles.

3. All the developed subdivisions and other land added to the city of Tyler, somewhat reducing the obligations of Smith County, thereby aiding Smith County finances.

I would suggest that Judge Moran be grateful for the great increases in taxes he enjoys each year from the rapidly expanding Tyler area, and forget the increase in the county taxpayer rate that he is requesting.

Shirley Pyle

Tyler