26 The QUEE NS Courier • march 13, 2014 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com editorial “Identify This Place” to find out where this is letters IDENTIFY THIS PLACE Go to www.queenscourier.com and search A broken system I am a retired educator with 38 years of experience in the New York City public school system. I write the following in support of charter schools and in opposition to Mayor Bill de Blasio’s decision to close them. Let’s say you’re passionate about pizza and you live in a neighborhood where only one establishment is permitted to produce and sell pizzas. Imagine those pizzas are unappetizing but you are compelled to purchase them by law and are forbidden to make your own. Substitute “education” for “pizzas” in this scenario and you will begin to comprehend the true nature of compulsory public education. In a free market, anyone who produces an unsavory pizza would soon be out of business because people are free to find and choose a better pizza. However, in the sphere of scholastic instruction, competition and freedom of choice, which nurture creativity and excellence, are conspicuously missing. Except for education, most services we use offer a choice of providers as well as an assortment of options to accommodate our individual needs. Many who rail against the power, control and influence of Wall Street, corporations, banks and the “one percenters” readily accept government’s absolute control of education. The education bureaucracy’s monopoly mandates a “one size fits all” curriculum, awards accreditation to approved colleges and professors to teach that curriculum, requires everyone to read approved text books, administers approved tests, certifies and awards tenure to approved teachers and supervisors and provides pay raises based on date of birth rather than merit. To make matters worse, compulsory education laws compel all students to attend approved institutions. After reviewing results of recent achievement tests, some have suggested the education monopoly should not only be charged with violating our liberties, but with intellectual genocide. The assertion that a primary purpose is “to train” children rather than “to educate” is consistent with the history and origins of “public education.” In Germany, Martin Luther in 1524 proposed the establishment of public schools, arguing “civil authorities are under obligation to compel the people to send their children to school, because in this case we are warring with the devil.” In 1816, North Carolina State Senator Archibald Murphey, also known as the “father of public education,” declared “all children will be taught in public schools. In these schools the precepts of morality and religion should be inculcated, and habits of subordination and obedience be formed.” What we desperately need is separation of schools and state. Where are the pro-choice progressives when we need them? Ed Konecnik Flushing Not the right way I have just read that the NYPD is cracking down on subway panhandlers and peddlers. I find this most disturbing because these people don’t need tickets or jail, but help. This could mean affordable housing, mental health assistance and financial help. I know this only too well, for after the Vietnam War and my release from the Navy I found myself in terrible shape both mentally and physically, living on the street for awhile. I found myself asking strangers for spare change and that was just to get something to eat. It was a sad time. If not for the kindness of a stranger, I don’t know if I would have survived. The city needs to take pity on people like these. Frederick R. Bedell Jr. Glen Oaks Village THE QUEENS Victoria Schneps-Yunis Joshua A. Schneps Bob Brennan Tonia N. Cimino Amy Amato-Sanchez Nirmal Singh Graziella Zerilli Stephen Reina Ron Torina, Jennifer Decio, Cheryl Gallagher Melisa Chan, Liam La Guerre, Cristabelle Tumola Maggie Hayes, Angy Altamirano Cliff Kasden, Samantha Sohmer, Elizabeth Aloni Cristabelle Tumola Maria Romero Louise Cavaliere Celeste Alamin Maria Valencia Daphne Fortunate Victoria Schneps-Yunis Joshua A. Schneps Publisher & E ditor Co-Publisher Associate Publisher Editor-In-Chief VP, Events, Web & Social Media Art Director Assistant to Publisher Assistant Art Director Artists Staff Reporters Contributing Reporters Web Editor Events Manager Senior Acc ount Executive Classified Manager Controller Office Manager President & CEO Vice President Schneps Communications, 38-15 Bell Blvd., Bayside, NY 11361 718-224-5863 • Fax 718-224-5441 website: www.queenscourier.com e-mail:editorial@queenscourier.com ads@queenscourier.com queenscourier@queenscourier.com Entire Contents Copyright 2014 by The Queens Courier All letters sent to THE QUEENS COURIER should be brief and are subject to condensing. Writers should include a full address and home and office telephone numbers, where available, as well as affiliation, indicating special interest. Anonymous letters are not printed. Name withheld on request. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR, AS WELL AS OP-ED PIECES IN NO WAY REFLECT THE PAPER’S POSITION. No such ad or any part thereof may be reproduced without prior permission of THE QUEENS COURIER. The publishers will not be responsible for any error in advertising beyond the cost of the space occupied by the error. Errors must be reported to THE QUEENS COURIER within five days of publication. Ad position cannot be guaranteed unless paid prior to publication. Schneps Communications assumes no liability for the content or reply to any ads. The advertiser assumes all liability for the content of and all replies. The advertiser agrees to hold The Quens Courier and its employees harmless from all cost, expenses, liabilities, and damages resulting from or caused by the publication or recording placed by the advertiser or any reply to any such advertisement. REMEMBER THE WORLD’S FAIR? Did you or someone you know attend the 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park? If yes, The Courier is asking you to share your memorabilia and/or memories with us to commemorate the event’s 50th anniversary this April. You could win a dinner for two. Please email your entries to editorial@ queenscourier.com with the subject line “World’s Fair Anniversary” or to Editorial, 38-15, Bell Boulevard, Bayside, NY 11361. Note: All photos/items become property of The Queens Courier A ‘HOLE’ IN ONE Driving through city streets these days feels like driving through a mine field. Winter-weary New Yorkers have been dealing with pothole after pothole – and paying the price. Broken axles, popped tires – the toll on motorists’ cars is adding up. But now one politician is spearheading a campaign to make your drive smoother. Councilmember Costa Constantinides recently announced he has introduced a bill in the City Council that would require potholes be filled within five days of being reported to the city. HOORAY! Constantinides pointed out that “Department of Transportation (DOT) data shows that we have been able to fill potholes effectively despite the harsh winter. The bill would codify good practice and set our expectations high for years to come.” We urge the Council to pass Constantinides’ bill and urge borough motorists who are out driving and happen to notice the craters lining our streets call 3-1-1. And we implore the DOT to fill in the gaps. After all, this plan is a “hole-in-one.” WEEKEND WOES As if this winter weren’t bad enough, the MTA has added insult to injury to Long Island City residents and businesses. This past weekend the community endured the first of more than a dozen weekends of No. 7 train suspensions. For those who live and work in the area, it was like a transit desert. “LIC is always talked about because of how easy it is to get to the city, and what happened? They the MTA took it away,” said Jeff Blath of local business Alobar, who, along with other entrepreneurs, noticed a sharp decline in profits. “Quietest Saturday in ages,” echoed Rebecca Trent, owner of The Creek and The Cave. For employees, getting to and from work was no picnic. Blath said that some of his workers took hours to get home. And for those who live in LIC, well, let’s just say their plans were nearly derailed. A subway ride that normally takes Warren Linnane 10 to 15 minutes took him and his friend close to three hours this weekend. “We were in the city and couldn’t get home,” he said. “It took us three trains and one cab, that’s more money and more time. It was terrible, I can’t go anywhere. We live here and we can’t get home.” But LIC is not taking things lying down. We commend people like Trent and fellow business owners, who have vowed to raise awareness in the neighborhood and make sure the issue “stays on the radar” of the local politicians. Trent will also dedicate street team efforts to inform people taking the other subway lines to come visit LIC. And we continue to urge the MTA to help the area by at least providing alternate means of transportation to help end the “weekend woes.”
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