Letters: Latinos and Jews, working together for Philadelphia schools

WHEN LEADERS from the Latino and Jewish communities met recently to discuss issues of mutual concern, it took little time to adopt "A Statement of Latino and Jewish Joint Purpose and Action" and reach agreement on the need for action on an issue of pressing concern: appropriate funding for public education.

We understood that for many of us, it was public education and a special teacher that helped to fuel our passion and bolster our courage during elementary- and middle-school years, when we were scared of everything - especially what we might achieve. And for many of us, we found that it was art, music, a sport, an extracurricular or an after-school activity that gave us a place to shine when the mysteries of calculus eluded us. With the austerity budget that the School Reform Commission was forced to adopt last month, the very things that engender the character and resilience that helped us succeed were eliminated. In the words of the Talmud, "Knowledge acquired in childhood is not soon forgotten."

It was that realization that propelled the Latino-Jewish Coalition to commit to do everything in its power to support those leaders who share this concern for our children facing school next year with their favorite teacher gone, their favorite activity cut. As Gov. Corbett's secretary of education wrote this week, "We are all in this together."

Former judge and White House fellow Nelson Diaz explains: "The very opportunities my three children received in the Philadelphia public schools will be denied to many of our children if an agreement for adequate funding for the school district is not achieved."

Without appropriate funding for public education, the American dream becomes a nightmare, and the ladder to success for our next generation is kicked down behind us. The Latino-Jewish Coalition supports efforts to ensure that public education remains accessible to all of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania's children through providing adequate funding.

Latino-Jewish Coalition

Co-Chairs :

The Honorable Nelson Diaz

and Sally Cooper Bleznak

Education Subcommittee Co-Chairs: Pedro Ramos, Esq.

and Alan Wohlstetter, Esq.

Never a hero

I felt compelled to respond to Stu Bykofsky's article detailing the troubles of Richard DeCoatsworth. I'm a behaviorist by training, but am also a Vietnam-era Navy veteran and a retired federal officer (detention and deportation), graduating from the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (better known as FLETC) nearly 30 years ago, in 1984.

I've read the numerous print media and listened to the numerous TV news accounts surrounding Mr. DeCoatsworth, and I have this problem with the description of him given by these outlets.

First, let me say this: Any law-enforcement officers who take the oath of office to protect and serve know going in that they may be called on to pay the ultimate price in the performance of their duties, which doesn't make them "heroes." For those officers, who reflect that oath and carry out their duties with dignity and respect for the public, and are willing to risk life and limb without accolades - these men and women are truly worthy of the hero moniker.

With that in mind, and with what has come to light, DeCoatsworth is not now nor ever was a hero. That is something the media made him out to be. Yes, he took a gunshot in the line of duty, but that is always a real possibility for a law officer. I would bet my degrees that the red flags for this troubled young man were evident long before his going to and graduating from the police academy; no one paid any attention. Mr. DeCoatsworth's background, if looked into beforehand, should have eliminated him from contention for a police cadet. It certainly would have if he had applied to become a federal law-enforcement officer.

I say all of that to say this: We should not be so quick to label people as "heroes" just for doing their jobs. It causes in some, and creates in others with diminished cognitive abilities, pressure they cannot handle, and causes behaviors already present to boil over the top.

Harry L. Gaymon

Philadelphia

From jail to Yale?

Gov. Corbett is having a new $400 million prison built, with air-conditioning, classrooms and a librarian. Is he trying to tell us that if we want a better learning environment for our children than what is expected under the "doomsday budget," then we should send them to the new prison?

Mayer Krain

Philadelphia

South gets a rise again

How is it that a man from Ridley Park was arrested at the Toby Keith concert for waving a Confederate flag and telling racial epithets at residents of a nearby apartment complex? I can only assume he was white. But isn't that what the Black Panthers do in Center City? Or that other group in front of Liberty Place? Oh, wait. It's OK 'cause they're black, right? Ladies and gentlemen, there is the definition of double standard.

Steven J. Donegan

Essington, Pa.