Letters: Teachers & ethnicity

STOP, STOP, stop!

Enough already with the continuous declarations that children will only achieve if their educator and they share the same ethnicity.

That theory holds about as much water as school segregation - and we all know how well that worked out.

While I'm merely just an average cracker in the box, I have taught mainly Latino and African-American students, many of whom have been tremendously successful in school.

As a matter of fact, the average student whom I've taught has scored either advanced or proficient in mathematics on the PSSAs. I wonder how they could have done that with an old washed-up white boy like me?

Letter-writer Jae Ross should realize that there is no correlation between ethnicity and academic achievement.

Perhaps someone should explain to him that children do well when they are stimulated and academically challenged.

In addition, a child cannot differentiate between laughing and learning. The best recipe for success is a heaping portion of levity, mixed with a generous amount of connection on their level.

Regardless of color, if teachers can't learn how to connect with their students, then they are wasting their time.

Terry Saskin

(Carnell Elementary)

Bensalem

Towing crackdown

City Controller Alan Butkovitz says the tow companies are ripping off hundreds of drivers by charging more than they're supposed to and demanding cash. (By the way, are there any taxes paid to the city on these charges?)

If any towing operation is found to be doing this, take its license away for a year and fine them and maybe

they'll do business according to the rules.

Mario Marchetti

Philadelphia