6/3: Help gifted low-income students afford college

I was impressed with the May 21-23 news articles in the series “Counted out” regarding public schools denying low-income and minority children placement in advanced classes and other programs commensurate with their academic achievements.

However, even with superior grades, tests and aptitude for these classes, parents of many of these children cannot afford to send them to college at today’s high costs, and there are not enough scholarships available.

That means placing a poor child in these advanced classes who does not have funds for college denies a place in such classes for children who do have financial resources to go to college. That’s not fair either. There should be a government subsidy for these poor students so they can be allowed to achieve and reach their full potential.

Gun bill ‘fuels fire’

The June 1 news article “Bill would end requirement for concealed-carry permits” just blew me away. Under this bill, concealed permits would no longer be needed if someone has an open-carry permit. Wow. Rep. Larry Pittman from Concord said, “If someone can legally carry openly there’s no legal reason for that person not to be able to carry concealed.” Really?

This bill would also lower the minimum age for concealed-carry permit holders to 18 from 21. Now if I were standing in a fast-food line and there were several 18-year-olds in the line packing their pistols, I would get out of there. Rep. Chris Millis says this is “a sensible piece of legislation affirming the commitment to liberties afforded.” What about everyone else’s liberties?

This would also allow concealed- or open-carry at state highway rest stops and in state parks. Count me out. My husband and I are both gun owners but I will not be a pistol-packer out and about, either concealed or open.

Has there not been enough gun violence? This just adds fuel to the fire.

Math importance ‘exaggerated’

Regarding the May 30 letter to the editor “Math importance challenged”: I agree with the authors of this letter. Certainly, math is important in academic success and in readiness for college, but this importance is sometimes exaggerated.

Colleges have known for years that a reliable piece of data for predicting future academic achievement is success in college-prep courses. And when employers are asked what skills they would like to see more of in college graduates, many answer writing and communication skills.

Obviously math is critical for anyone pursuing a technical or scientific major or career field, but I’d hate to see some of the other arts and abilities left out of the conversation.

This story was originally published June 2, 2017 at 6:00 PM with the headline "6/3: Help gifted low-income students afford college."