All cruel events must be banned wherever they are practiced
– charreadas, rodeos, dog or cock fighting, etc. In addition to
being barbaric and sadistic, animal
&
amp;#8194;cruelty has a known connection to criminal abusive
behavior.
Education and Society 1A: Lesson on fiscally responsible government
Dear Editor, 
This retort is in response to Mr. James Fennell’s letter published March 7. It is obvious not only from his opinions, but from media coverage about predatorial teachers and public disregard for educational budget cuts, that our public school system’s reputation is negligible.
Let me generalize a few points so that the community can understand how fiscally responsible governments rely on education.
First, public school teachers do not teach “just anything.” The state has adopted a set of standards that requires each teacher to follow. So, to allow students to research bomb-making on the Internet would be, to put it lightly, ludicrous. For Mr. Fennell to state that such activities would even be part of the education that I, along with every other teacher in California, give to our students is a clear insult to our intelligences.
Second, the adage, “it takes a village to raise a child” is true to this day. Educators have taken on more responsibilities over the past decade that would be considered parental obligations. We do teach respect, responsibility, and safety. Morality is at the heart of many educators’ lessons. For Mr. Fennell to state that children are not taught right from wrong is simply overlooking statewide education efforts that assist students in becoming honest, reliable civilians. 
Third, there is a direct correlation between over-crowded prisons and an educational system deficient of funds. Consider how higher-level thinking skills taught through music or art will effect students who do not have such options outside of public education. Mental dexterity and wisdom, which Mr. Fennell fervently wrote about, will dissipate. 
Children find activities to fill their time; unfortunately, juvenile misdemeanors are more common in low-income, low-socioeconomic areas. More education does mean less crime, supported by a multitude of legislative and impartial studies.
Lastly, religion and morality are independent of each other. One can be moral and areligious, or religious and immoral. Case in point, Pope Leo X. 
Cristina Tuckness, Gilroy, educator
Gilroy missing the economic boat on the solar technology parade
Dear Editor,
As our neighbor to the north continues to emerge as the world leader in solar technology jobs, what can and should Gilroy be doing to attract its share of these new high-wage opportunities for our residents?
The private sector has done its part to introduce the technology and the Gilroy Unified School District Environmental Oversight Committee found and provided non taxpayer funded monies to train GUSD students for local jobs in the solar industry. Yet, no concerted effort seems to be underway in Gilroy at the local government level to attract high technology, high-wage, high-city-tax-base-alternative-energy jobs, nor keep in place the few homegrown alternative energy firms that started in Gilroy.
The Morgan Hill Chamber works hard to promote green industry and even has an annual award to recognize local businesses that strive to be green. Nothing even remotely similar exists at the Gilroy Chamber nor via the partially taxpayer funded Economic Development Corp. Meanwhile, San Jose is reaping millions of dollars in tax and other revenues while we see $0. Why?
Chris Cote Founder, Gilroy Independence Solar Homes 
It’s not really the state, GUSD just needs more local tax dollars
Dear Editor,
I’ve been following the Gilroy Unified School District budget cuts from a distance as a retired trustee. I know the Board is doing well with a terrible situation, and I wish them well and offer my support any way that I can.
I read your editorial blaming the state intervention into the process for causing the situation we are now in. I do not agree with your conclusions, which were unsupported by any facts.
Your point was that local control of tax money would allow us to better educate our students in Gilroy. Yet, you mention that the state went from first in per-pupil spending in the U.S, to 46th. That is the real issue, not how the state inserts itself. The state has always inserted itself, just the dollar amounts have changed.
“Everybody wants to get to heaven and no one wants to die.” – Speaker Tip O’Neil.
You have to put up the money to get results. When the 49ers don’t spend money on players, they don’t win. The low payroll teams are always at the bottom. People saying it’s not about the money or funding are dead wrong. It’s ALL about the funding!
When your teacher’s salaries are low, the top graduating teachers (the stars) all go for the big money. Gilroy rarely recruits top graduates into their teaching core due to lower salaries and lack of teacher housing in Gilroy. When you draft last each year, you never build up the talent base to be a championship team. That’s why our test scores remain low year after year regardless of programs. We don’t have the all-star talent coming out of Stanford and Harvard, and coming to teach in Gilroy. We are not grooming administrators from a group of all-stars, and we are simply doing the best we can with what we are given. This is not a criticism of GUSD staff. This is an honest evaluation of an entire system and why GUSD doesn’t put up the numbers Palo Alto does. I do agree with your point, and always have, that local control can fix the problem, though. Gilroy controls its own destiny.
We have the ability, as a community, to pass local parcel taxes to fund the school district to any level WE choose as residents. In fact, there is no law in the land that says we cannot tax ourselves and make GUSD the highest paying district in Santa Clara County. We can have local control of that money – as you state is the real solution, and we can have enough money, as I state is my solution. Sounds like a true “win-win” to me. So what do you say, Gilroy? Are we going to fund our children’s future? Or sit around talking about how to get into heaven without dying?
Dave McRae, Gilroy
Mask it in cultural acceptability, but it’s still real animal abuse
Dear Editor,
All cruel events must be banned wherever they are practiced – charreadas, rodeos, dog or cock fighting, etc. In addition to being barbaric and sadistic, animal cruelty has a known connection to criminal abusive behavior.
Participating or observing should be a felony. It’s no more acceptable under the phony smokescreen of “tradition,” or lame claims of discrimination, than vigilante hangings would be. Spare us and innocent animals from tragedy by outlawing all brutal events that terrorize and injure animals.
Mike Finch, Loomis
Dear Editor,
Charros! I just don’t understand how this is “entertainment” – it’s animal abuse plain and simple.
Twilia Hoyle, Orleans
Dear Editor,
Brutal is brutal no matter how “cultural” someone deems it to be. Horse tripping is one of the worst activities I’m aware of; and that includes dog fighting.
Sheri Graf, San Martin
Dear Editor,
Could someone please explain to me the difference between the “sanctioned” steer-tailing event, and the “outlaw” steer-tailing event? From the animals’ point of view, there is no difference.
This brutal event should be banned statewide, no matter who’s doing it. Alameda and Contra Costa counties banned this cruelty back in the early ’90’s. Santa Clara County should follow suit.
Eric Mills, coordinator, Action for Animals, Oakland
