Phil Kirk is right on Common Core
Phil Kirk wrote an outstanding column on the background and the need for Common Core standards (“Common Core standards are needed,” May 7). Over the years I have witnessed too many “fixes” to education enacted, only to be done away with shortly and another beginning to also be short lived. Folks, you have to give it a chance, a good chance and not just a nod and then pass on.
Millions of dollars have already been spent on the implementation of Common Core. If there are any hiccups that need to be fixed, fix them and keep moving. Why waste this effort, the money put into it, to move to an unknown set of standards not yet established?
North Carolina’s standards for years have been too low, and more uniform standards with other states will better enable our students to compete in the world of work. The NC Legislature are not education experts, and they need to keep their hands off the implementation of the Common Core Standards, for the sake of future generations of our children.
— Pat Bullard
China Grove

Thanks, Rodney
My thanks to Rodney Cress for his article on nurses of World War II. It was very appropriate as we approach Memorial Day.
My mother was an Army nurse in Europe during WWII. While she found the experience rewarding, the memories of the wounded and dying young men forever changed her. Today we would call it PTSD; in the 1950s it was just nervous afflictions. After battling physical and drug dependency issues, she died at an early age. Her mother said that she was never the same after coming back from the war.
I appreciated the sensitivity shown in Mr. Cress’ article to the conditions that nurses dealt with during WWII.
— Gene E. Krueger
Salisbury
After the primary
Recently there was an article about the mall and the possibility of a tax increase (“Commissioners discuss possible tax increase for West End Plaza,” May 6). That article mentioned Jim Sides’ weekend video and remarks by Larry Wright that Satan was working in Rowan County to subvert the true Christians in the county.
Tuesday’s primary showed that Satan and his minions can be defeated. But the fight is not over. We as people of love and good will have to continue to fight hate and discrimination until we purge it out of North Carolina.
The hatred shown to the Moral Monday protesters in Raleigh shows this country just how bigoted the government of North Carolina is. And just as the Moral Monday protests have gone nationwide, so must we of La Resistance.
Our next step is to expand La Resistance from a single county to a statewide organization. One way to do this is to contact friends and relatives around North Carolina and tell them about what we have done here in Rowan County. Also we need to set up a center to help coordinate the expansion.
Remember, we are fighting the same type of horror that our namesake did in World War II against the German Nazis.
— Julian A Torrey
Salisbury

We love Oakboro
We had the good fortune of passing through Oakboro on April 25 on our way to the beach. We stopped at a grassy area beside the railroad track to give our dogs a break.
Manchita, the first dog down, hit the ground running and pulled loose of her collar. She took off like a bullet and headed west down the railroad tracks through the briars and thickets. We spent over two hours riding around town and talked to some of the nicest, friendliest people as we looked for our dog.
Then we went to the town hall. A lady there told us the chief of police would get right on this and find our dog. Her attitude was very reassuring. After another round through the community, we departed for the beach, my wife crying all the way.
An hour later we got a call from an Oakboro police officer who said he’d seen our dog and would do his best to find her.
An hour later, a lady called and said she’d seen our dog in a parking lot. The police chief had posted an APB on Facebook, and she said she was going back to look for our dog.
I got another call from a man who saw the chief’s Facebook page. “I think I saw your dog trotting down the sidewalk on Main Street,” he said. “I hollered to some people, ‘That’s a lost dog; try and catch her.’” A man at NAPA Auto Parts opened the door and she went in and laid down behind the counter.
That gentleman brought our dog to Wadesboro, where I picked her up. Tried with all my power to pay him but to no avail.
The town of Oakboro has the most wonderful people of any town I’ve ever been to.
We love Oakboro.
— Gene and Emilia Long
Kannapolis

Thanks for help
On behalf the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office and our Relay for Life Team, I would like to thank our supporters for your help in our effort to contribute to find a cure for cancer. Sheriff Auten and the Sheriff’s Office strive to remain involved in community organizations such as Rowan Relay for Life and the American Cancer Society.
Thank you to the many businesses who supported the cause and everybody that helped with your time and donations. Thank you for your generosity.
— Chad Moose
Salisbury
The core problem
The battle lines are forming between those who favor and those who oppose the Common Core curriculum. During the last few days some organization has even begun paying for television time to promote it’s virtues.
It is my understanding that school systems in some states may sell data collected during student testing.
During my days as a teacher in North Carolina, changes in public education went something like this: Someone in Raleigh comes up with the greatest thing since sliced bread. Teachers are then mandated to implement the newest innovation by participation in exciting workshops during a time when they should be preparing their classroom for students, who will be arriving very soon.
Teachers are also designated to be the group who are accountable for the success of the concept. No matter the amount of indifference displayed by students or parents, more work on the part of the teacher will be required if the student does not meet the testing parameter.
This model of efficiency is promoted until the next great idea is discovered. Then all these past efforts will be abandoned in order to implement the next initiative. Why in the world would veteran teachers be leaving the profession in record numbers?
Common Core is an effort to promote certain ideologies by integrating them into the educational curriculum. Should students spend equal time reading the works of Mark Twain and George Clooney?
Professor Terrence Moore of Hillsdale College has produced a video available on YouTube which presents his viewpoint of Common Core: “Story-Killers: How the Common Core Destroys Minds and Souls.” No matter your viewpoint, it would be well worth your time to review the possible pitfalls of Common Core.
— Joe Teeter
Gold Hill