Fremont is excellent school; deserves support
This letter is in response to Mr. McKenna's letter printed in the Nevada Appeal on Sunday, March 15.
I taught at Fremont School from 1978-2005. I still go to Fremont to volunteer. Fremont School is a dynamic school. Most staff members have master's degrees, with one member holding a Ph.D. The number of awards received by members of alumni and current staff members add historical depth to a viable school. The Fremont staff is highly qualified.
Even though morale is sinking, every staff member is up bright and early, getting to school and giving of themselves to teach, mentor, guide, problem solve, love and care for the students attending Fremont. Much of the current situation has developed over a period of time and can be laid directly at the feet of the school board and school administration, not "affluent parents."
The first Fremont School was located at 700 E. 5th St., which is now the Nevada State Department of Education. When the new Fremont school building was constructed in 1991 with bond funds approved by the voters, members of the school board and the school district's administrative staff made the decision as to where to place the school. I do not recall "affluent parents" stomping on that particular piece of land and saying the school must be built on this precise spot. This is spreading an urban myth.
While I am talking about urban myths, let's clarify another one that is still floating around after too many years. I don't know when the idea that Fremont is an "elite school" began. I heard the rumor when I moved here 30 years ago.
I think the school board members and administration should have put a stop to the "elite" comments continually being thrown at Fremont. Everyone in the Carson City School District should work together and support one another. A leader should have stepped up to the plate and said "enough" instead of letting negative comments and innuendoes build into another urban myth.
DONNA HATAWAY
Carson City
Attempt to smear Reid behind railway criticism
I am writing to reply to Walter Owen's letter to the editor that called Tim O'Callaghan's opinion piece in the Nevada Appeal "outrageous."
Yes, Mr. O'Callaghan is aware of the two different railway projects here in Nevada and, yes, Mr. O'Callaghan is one of us, being his father was our governor from 1971-1979 and he grew up in Carson City. I know this information to be correct because I e-mailed Mr. O'Callaghan to check my facts. But that is not what Mr. O'Callaghan's opinion piece was about.
It was about U.S. Congressman Trent Franks, R-Ariz, going on national television and giving an interview without first checking his facts. (This is what I find outrageous.) Mr. Franks had many different avenues in which to be aware of the two distinct railway projects hundreds of miles apart. He could have gone to the Internet, or he could have consulted Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., or Congressman Dean Heller, R-Nev. These politicians are acutely aware of the two distinct railway projects.
So, it would lead a person to suspect that the facts did not matter here and that this interview on Fox News was a deliberate attempt on Mr. Franks' part to smear Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev.
I applaud Mr. O'Callaghan for standing on principle and calling out a bald-faced lie.
JENNY SMITH
Carson City
Guidelines needed to hold people accountable
I have been a mechanic all my life working in the automotive and diesel industry. So when I make my point here with the economy and the way in which it is being handled, I will make reference to the terms and practice we use.
When a car or truck has quit running or is broken, we will fix it by using our training, knowledge and experience. We then order new parts and do the repairs. If we use shoddy workmanship or parts, we lose the faith of our customers and even possible risk of life while operating the vehicle.
The approach that has been used in trying to fix the economy would be like using old parts to fix something that is broken. You are using the same banking executives and half of Clinton's old staff that got us in the mess in the first place. You need to start over with new parts to fix the mess. And you wonder why people do not trust you with their investments now?
Whether it is a Democrat or Republican, the missing link is common sense and some form of intelligence that a common person will use. There needs to be some guidelines that actually make sense and make someone accountable for the mistakes. If I do something wrong, I have to be accountable. What is wrong with making white collar and political figures accountable?
GARY ERSKINE
Fallon