11/7 Letters: Questions about Robeson school charter takeover

After reading “Robeson school tapped for charter takeover” (Nov. 3) on the Robseon school takeover by a charter company, I am more confused regarding charter schools in North Carolina. At the Oct. 30 Community Voices forum organized by the N&O, the charter school advocates said one big advantage to charter schools is that they are under local control. Now we see that a failing public school is being taken out of local control and handed over to a for-profit firm.

What is not clear is what modifications of expectations the new school administration will have. Will they have to keep the same roster of students? Will the curriculum change? If so, how? Will they have to provide transportation and free lunches at the same level as in the recent past? Clearly something needs to change to help the students perform better in this school. But the article does not delve into the reasons for the low grade. If someone has some great ideas on how to remedy the situation, maybe they could ask the local board to implement those ideas with the necessary funding provided by the state. This could be more cost-effective than a for-profit management group.

Tax plan ‘disastrous’

“Republicans release details of long-awaited tax plan” (Nov. 3) details the proposed tax plan that Republicans are attempting to shove down the throats of the American people before we know what hits us. Adding $1.5 trillion to the deficit over the next decade, to what end? To drastically cut the corporate tax rate so they make even higher profits?

Don’t be fooled that the proposed plan will “benefit the middle class.” Not with the elimination of mortgage interest and student loan deductions, among other popular middle-class tax savings. Make no mistake that the very rich, such as those in Congress and the Cabinet, stand to gain huge windfalls with the elimination of the estate tax, tax of overseas profits, etc. The GOP is trying to rush the plan through Congress without so much as a public hearing. Who are they kidding?

The disastrous plan, with its huge revenue reductions, will result in even more cuts to education, environmental protection and improvements to America’s infrastructure, not to mention the toll on health care, Social Security and children’s health. We can not afford this “gift” to the top 1 percent of Americans, a gift our grandchildren will be stuck with repaying.

Plant-based ‘solution’

Regarding “Bar too low on hog waste” (Nov. 3): Rules and regulations are not the solution to the problems caused by animal agriculture. The solution is plant-based eating. Having only vegetables on your plate means no animals on factory farms and thus elimination of the problems associated with animal agriculture.

Plant-based eating is better for your health, better for the animals and better for the environment.

This story was originally published November 6, 2017 at 10:46 AM with the headline "11/7 Letters: Questions about Robeson school charter takeover."