Dear Editor,
Less education will equal more crime in Gilroy.
Teachers exasperated with pending budget cuts, student ‘casualties’
Dear Editor,
Regarding the proposed budget cuts in Gilroy Unified School District … This proposed budget cut to eliminate art and music from a population of students who will, in all likelihood, never be offered a chance to explore such arenas of creativity, communication, and world connection, if not through public education, is as much a travesty as an armed war.
In fact, California public educators have been steadily losing this war of attrition for the last two decades – fighting for the needs of children who are quickly becoming casualties.  
Stacey Falconer, 6th grade teacher, South Valley Junior High
Effect of budget cut are elementary
Dear Editor,
Less education will equal more crime in Gilroy.
Cristina Tuckness, junior high teacher
Banning Charreadas doesn’t factor in the Mexican cultural traditions
Dear Editor,
I understand the concern of many of the animal rights activists in the area, concerned for the well-being of these creatures. However, I think a more important issue has been brought up and it is a lack of understanding of the culture that comes along with these rodeos and “charreadas”. Not all “charreadas” are made to purposely hurt the animals. Some of these “charreadas” are simply events that occur to allow families to come together on a Sunday afternoon, listen to music, and share with their children an aspect of the lifestyles they may have experienced in their countries of origin.
Many of the parents that take their children to these events grew up in farms in Mexico and “charreadas” are the only way that they can share with their children a part of their childhood. As the daughter of parents who enjoy such events, I recall a sense of excitement every single time I attended such an event because I was able to learn a little bit more about the lifestyle that my father had in Mexico. Such events were always a form to take you to Mexico even for a small part of your Sunday afternoon.
For some people tradition is something that cannot be ignored. Let us not categorize all Mexican congregations involving animals as automatic reunions to abuse animals. Let us not be quick to assume that rodeos and charreadas have a direct correlation to domestic violence or slavery as well, since this is false. For many Latino children, coming to “charreadas” is the closest that they come to seeing a farm creature. Due to their housing situation many may not even have pets and find this as an opportunity to come close to an animal. With the rising costs to zoo admissions and their distance from the area, few have the opportunity to do so very often.
An important issue that should also be considered is the lack of activities available for Latino/HIspanic families during the weekend in the Gilroy/Morgan Hill area. If a hobby is to be banned from the city, what else are families supposed to do with a limited budget as a result of high monthly mortgage payments/rent payments in the South Bay? Let us not generalize the  different types of hobbies and penalize people for having fun in a different way from “modern day” society. Sure these traditions date back in time, but reality is that they should not be abolished simply because some aspects of them are unappealing to a small sector of the population that is able and willing to speak up on their disagreement with the tradition. I hope that Santa Clara County government does not jump to a decision without analyzing the situation carefully and without negotiating what practices are permissible in a rodeo/charreada setting.
I also hope that if they hold forums on the issue they also consider holding some in Spanish or at least have some sort of translation service available for those individuals that are passionate about this sport, but most likely cannot express their opinions. Let us not forget that they are also citizens of this region and have a say in what affects them. If these “charreadas” are to be banned I hope that you are prepared to respond somehow to the hundreds of families in the region that look forward to these types of events. In the past a skate park was created in Gilroy to fulfill the needs of what was once considered by some to be a crime: skating. I hope our city governments are ready to respond in the same form to this type of hobby in a way that accepts it rather than criminalizing individuals who are simply engaging in their passions for the sport.
Rebecca Perez, Gilroy
New GI Bill should take care of a college education for our veterans
Dear Editor,
Recently, a delegation of veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America visited Washington D.C. to tell lawmakers one thing: our newest generation of veterans deserves real educational benefits that make college tuition affordable.
Now is the time for our Congress to take action on this, and pass a 21st-century GI Bill.
After World War II, attending college gave veterans time to readjust to civilian life, and prepared them for careers as innovators and leaders. For every dollar spent on the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, seven went back into the economy in the form of increased productivity, consumer spending and tax revenue.
Today’s GI Bill only covers part of the costs of college. Tuition costs have increased faster than inflation, and many veterans must take out student loans or forego education altogether.
In a time when we are asking so much of our Armed Forces, paying for college is one of the best ways to show our gratitude as a nation. Congress needs to pass a new GI bill this year.
Don Kludt, Gilroy
