Letters to the Editor

In the Oct. 27 issue of The Sun, columnist Sherry Tatar did a very nice job of summarizing the benefits and problems with school teachers' pay-for-performance, as it is a complex issue involving teachers, motivating students, and parents.

Teachers have a lot to do with a class of 25-30 students just teaching, let alone helping individual students having problems.

It seems that a targeted-student approach would work better, direct effort where needed, and could be done by adding study skills teachers (SKTs) to work in some classrooms. That is, targeted students would be those few getting F's or D's, or not doing homework.

SKTs would work to motivate and to find what will get them excited about learning so as to raise their grades.

Rather than paying the teachers more, I would suggest a motivational reward for all: students, their parents, and SKTs. Motivations would vary and include all going to a baseball game, laser tag, a pizza night out.

All should get rewarded, as all must work together. Schools and teachers must experiment to see what works. Schools are moving toward individual education, and this would be another tool teachers have to create successful students.

Schools also should realize that not all students want or care about AP classes and college. Despite Naperville's elite AP courses, the school and parents should also understand that it's OK to have a dual path for those non-college-bound students, where a working skill is acquired and a community college may be a better choice for some children.

Paul Betten

Naperville

During his election, President Obama campaigned to treat Afghanistan as the central front in the war on terrorism and to wage a war of victory within that nation.

In late spring, President Obama selected Gen. Stanley McChrystal, an expert in special operations and counter-insurgency, to lead his war in Afghanistan. In early summer, McChrystal developed a plan to achieve the president's goal and delivered it to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. In August, the plan was submitted to President Obama for approval.

The plan has languished on the president's desk for two months. We've been told the president will not make a decision until mid-November at the earliest. Reasons given include needing more time for evaluation, waiting for elections in New Jersey and Virginia to be completed, and needing an offsetting action to pacify those who believe the president should leave Afghanistan immediately.

In that time, about 100 American sons, daughters, siblings, husbands and wives have died in Afghanistan. At current rates, hundreds more could die before a decision is made.

While our president polls, more American patriots die without direction in a foreign land.

Where is Code Pink?

Where is Cindy Sheehan?

Where is the outrage?

Bob Swininoga

Naperville

I strongly urge Illinois senators and representatives to vote for a robust public option plan that ensures we citizens have a choice. The "trigger" is a joke, meant to kill reform. Witness the skyrocketing cost of drugs despite the "trigger" passed several years ago.

Also, please support resurrecting anti-trust regulation against the health insurance companies. And please explore regulations that bar them from engaging in the denial of claims.

Oleh Sydor

Glen Ellyn