Blaming the boogeyman doesn't help kids learn
Re "Race, gender and money don't matter when it comes to educating kids," Sept. 27: The real reason Ohio schools are in dire straits is because of people who prefer to blame some boogeyman, like teachers' unions, instead of voting for legislators who actually care about public education.
The "Mississippi Miracle" Philip Derrow referred to started in 2013
.That's 13 years of sustained effort by the state legislature and educators to improve the school system. Kymyona Burk, who was part of the Mississippi Miracle for six years, said that implementing change breaks down due to "funding, and clear guidance on what it is that you're supposed to do."
As a reminder,
the current public school funding setup is unconstitutional, and the legislature refused to implement the Fair Funding Formula in the last budget. Nearly $4 billion in the budget is going to charter schools and the voucher programs.
If Ohio wants its own miracle, we need dedicated legislators and educators willing to put in the time (13 years or more) and money to reform the public schools.
The GOP has been in power nearly 20 years and has shown no interest in real reform. I guess the GOP prefers to just take donations from charter school advocates and deflect blame on some imagined progressive agenda. That's something to keep in mind this November.
Dennis Drew, Columbus
Our humanity shouldn't be erased
I am frankly appalled by the contentment and blatant hypocrisy of most humans on the subject of artificial intelligence.
Humans are using AI daily, both professionally and recreationally, despite knowing its extensive and fatal consequences.
Within the past month, the narrative surrounding the dangers of AI has gotten far more severe and terrifyingly urgent.
What boggles my mind is how I can’t find a news article online about how artificial intelligence could “‘kill us all by the end of the decade’” without being fed an “AI Overview” before I can find any reputable sources, such as The Columbus Dispatch.
News headlines from this past month include “A researcher warned AI could end humanity …” And yet, there is no way around using AI anymore.
Despite knowing this, humans (especially those in power) are still uplifting and innovating the technology by, for example, creating new college AI majors and opening new data centers right outside the heart of Columbus.
I believe it’s finally time we wake up and change the narrative on AI and come together, not as individual countries or peoples, but as one species, and defend the fundamentals of what makes humanity so beautiful before it’s too late.
Zeke Moses, Columbus
Ohio kids can learn from the students of Gaza
Ohio and many other areas in our country need a societal and cultural reset. How is it that our schools are experiencing 'chronic absenteeism' while students in 'war-torn' Gaza are returning to school by the thousands?
Here in Ohio, we have clean, safe and well-equipped schools for every child. Gaza is a 'wasteland' that continues to have the dangers and threats of war and destruction hanging over the heads of students and teachers.
Gazans get it. According to UNICEF, 94% of children in Gaza view education as a high priority.
So the reset our society requires is an understanding, appreciation and desire for the education of every child. The value and importance of education must start in the home and be supported by a community's schools.
We can learn from observing Gazan families, teachers and students.
John Seryak, Reynoldsburg
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Conjuring up the boogeyman doesn't help kids learn | Letters
