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Opinion

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March 21 - April 3, 2015

Letter to the Editor

Community Commentary

Education needs fewer dollars BY JAN PFAHL

Jim Bishop takes to task lawmakers for not “supporting” public (government) schools (“Lawmakers should support public education,” March 7). He says he supports parents’ right to choose the schools that work for their kids, but then complains about the tax credits that go to private and religious schools. We decide if government schools are inadequate and inefficient—especially when it comes to spending. The tax dollars should follow the students to the schools they actually attend. We already paid tuition, and our kids cost the public schools not one dime, because they weren’t there. Yet we paid just as much in property taxes for government schools and tuition on top of that. Vouchers would help here. Government schools have no real competition and therefore they don’t have to please the marketplace. Unless parents can afford private school, they are stuck with the public schools no matter how poorly they function. Government-run schools, like pretty much anything run by government, tend to be wasteful and cavalier with money and really don’t have to prove themselves worthy of the dollars they are given. Our property taxes are going up yet again. Most of that goes to schools. Arizona is fortunate in that we have

many more charter schools than most states, and some are excellent. Good for Eddie Farnsworth for being the president of Ben Franklin schools! My grandson is in Ben Franklin and we are very pleased with it. So what if it’s for profit? Profit simply means that if the schools do the job parents want them to do they will prosper. The marketplace, remember? As for everyone starting school Sept. 1, yay! Just because that year round schedule has been around for 20 years doesn’t mean it isn’t a horrible idea. Before that, when we were kids, everyone went back to school the day after Labor Day. Everyone had the same breaks. So much better. All these different schedules for starting school, breaks, etc. are a big, fat pain. Why is it that Christian and Catholic schools can turn out students who are far better educated than public school students and can do it with far less money? Because they have to produce results or no one will go there. Right now students come out of public school unable to read well, write a sentence, use proper grammar (often the teachers don’t know grammar either, nor how to teach it), spell or punctuate. They haven’t read classic literature or learned real history or science (not junk science). Yet, they clamor for more and more money and then do the most ridiculous things—like adopt Common Core. But that’s a topic SEE EDUCATION PAGE 36

Paralympian an inspiration to all BY COUNCILMAN JACK SELLERS

I recently hosted a Chandler In Focus program and was honored to meet Scott Hogsett, threetime Paralympic Wheelchair Jack Sellers. Rugby Medalist Submitted photo for Team USA. Scott has been involved in sports from the age of 5, and at 19 made a decision that changed his life. He attended an underage drinking party and was thrown 10 feet off a balcony, breaking his neck and causing him to become a paraplegic. During his six months of rehabilitation, his father told him that though he does not have complete use of his body, his mind will lead him in fulfilling his dreams. He took that advice very seriously and moved from Idaho to Arizona in 1994. Though he went through trials and tribulations, he wanted to live a full life. Scott graduated from Arizona State

University with a degree in Recreational Therapy and hasn’t looked back. Since 1998, he has coached the Division 1 Phoenix Heat Wheelchair Rugby Team that is ranked No. 1 in the country. Scott, who began his Olympic career in 1998, credits his wife for providing the support he needed to stay competitive. He won a bronze medal at the 2004 games in Athens, a gold medal at the 2008 games in Beijing, and a bronze medal at the 2012 games in London. Scott was recently inducted into the Arizona Hall of Fame in April 2014 as the first Paralympic athlete. Though Scott isn’t training for the Olympics, he’s continuing his coaching and is a mentor to those who have experienced a life changing tragedy. He has been providing support to more than 500 patients for more than 19 years and is well known at St. Joseph’s Hospital. Scott’s goal is to get people leaving the hospital in a wheelchair back into society living their life independently. He is also active at the Virginia G. Piper Sports and Fitness Center for Persons with Disabilities. This SEE PARALYMPIAN PAGE 36

Ombudsmen just may brighten your day BY DENNY BARNEY

Denny Barney. Submitted photo

In the business world, Nordstrom is known as the gold standard of customer service. They have a reputation. When you visit their store, you are the priority. Many businesses have tried to emulate

the Nordstrom experience to keep customers coming back again and again. Contrast this mental picture with an infamous trip to the Department of Motor Vehicles. You might be cringing. Long lines, disinterested employees and tedious forms can be a source of frustration. It might seem many government agencies emulate this model making it harder and less rewarding for their customers to do business. SEE OMBUDSMEN PAGE 36

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