LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Radar patrols
If you are a driver who believes in obeying the state's laws, you are putting yourself in danger of an accident or someone attacking you with road rage!
For years now, I have questioned why county and state police are never out on Route 12 in the Fox Lake area running radar or controlling traffic at intersections like Route 12 and Big Hollow Road, and also at State Park Road and Route 12, or State Park and Grass Lake roads.
The incident at State Park and Route 12 on Oct. 7 is a good reason for more police action. Why is that semi lying on its side and a SUV heavily damaged? Plus, I think they have had to replace at least six traffic signals at that intersection just this year alone. I cannot remember how many smashed cars and semis on there sides I have seen at Route 12 and Big Hollow this year alone, too.
Now for my biggest concern, our school children. Why do people no longer think they have to do 20 mph in school zones? Why are the police not out there during recess running radar and ticketing these people who endanger our children?
Does it take too much time away from police work? I have had cars and trucks blowing their horns at me and even passing in turn lanes and double-yellow line areas of schools on Grass Lake Road and the kids were out playing. That is clearly the time for driving 20 mph in school zones.
Are children's lives not important anymore? Do our police and villages and county no longer care about safety, especially our children?
Kenneth Hellstern
Math tutorial
The Oct. 15 headline "4 Real Math Division" was a clever play on words, but there is no real controversy. So what's really going on?
The majority of the North Chicago board voted to approve 4 Real Math for this academic school year. 4 Real Math is a middle school project that is based on research that some students learn best when they relate what they're learning to experiences they enjoy.
Sharon Epps, board member, did not support the program and wants the district to replace it with a tutoring program called Study Buddy.
It was certainly Ms. Epps' prerogative not to vote for the project, but if she had taken her concern through the proper channels instead of airing her gripe in the press, she would have discovered that the district can offer Study Buddy through supplemental education services programs. Under No Child Left Behind, school districts have to offer tutoring services free of charge to parents whose children qualify.
The school district provides a list of state-certified providers and the parent can select a provider. The funds for these programs have to be set aside under Title 1 funds. Federal mandates for states have become so complex that these matters are best left to the district administrators to decipher, not to truncated discussions in the newspaper.
Comparing 4 Real Math and Study Buddy is like comparing apples to oranges. Study Buddy is an on-line computer tutoring program. 4 Real Math is a hands on project that gets students out of their seats.
4 Real Math also uses "real" models -- engineers, biochemist, airline pilots, etc. -- who show students what these professions are about. It's hard to aspire to be something you know nothing about. At the end of the program, students are hopefully persuaded that math is cool, and not just for geeks and nerds, so to speak.
After reading the article, some probably concluded that 4 Real Math is an expensive project that serves few students. The target class size is 20 to 25 students and the project is approaching that goal.
This program meets before school at 7 a.m. and poses a real challenge to middle school youngsters who usually don't have to be at school that early. Being on time that early and being consistent is part of the discipline learned in order to be successful in math.
Additionally, there are high school students who get trained and act as math coaches for the middle school students. The project budget includes all the cost of the program, including transportation, fees, wages, graphing calculators, etc. The budget is reasonable when compared to other district contracts.
Ms. Epps argues that Study Buddy costs $50 per students. I think $50 per session is more like it. Someone should tell Ms. Epps to do the math. This program could potentially serve less students and cost more than 4 Real Math.
The two programs are needed in a district with achievement challenges. They are not mutually exclusive. As stated by one of the school educators, 4 Real Math is part of an intensive district strategy to increase math achievement.
These strategies recommended by district principals include adding an extra hour of math instruction and in-house tutoring sessions. 4 Real Math has its place in that strategy. It's up to Ms. Epps to get on board, or move on.
Marian McElroy
