Gov. Cooper got it wrong this time. All NC schools should reopen under the same plan.

Cooper’s decision

Regarding “Cooper: NC schools to reopen with social distancing measures,” (July 15):

Previously, Gov. Roy Cooper has issued orders for the entire state, not broken out by areas. This time, he caved to the “ReOpen NC” crowd, giving them fuel for their fire to segment the state. Just like President Trump has each state scrambling to find what it needs, now each N.C. county/school district will be doing the same.

Cooper has fractured our state. He totally betrayed us all. We didn’t have a president or federal government to depend on; we didn’t have a General Assembly to depend on; and now we don’t have a governor with our best interests at heart.

Cynthia Greer, Winston-Salem

Wait to reopen

Yes, school is important. I worked in Wake County schools for a lifetime and my daughter has taught school for 24 years.

Teachers would love for their students to return to the classroom. No one is more concerned about your child’s education than their teachers, and parents can be sure that teachers will work diligently to provide quality online classes.

Once the virus has abated enough to provide safe conditions for return to the classroom, teachers will ensure students receive any supplemental work necessary to bridge gaps that may have occurred.

Tell Gov. Cooper and the Wake County school board that the risk is too great. We must not risk the lives of our precious children.

Barbara Painter, Apex

GOP leader’s insight

Tuesday, Sen. Phil Berger expressed concern about “parents who do not have the privilege of working from home (and) can’t take off every other day from work” to match their student’s schedule. He asked “What are they supposed to do?” Wrong question, Sen. Berger. What are you and your legislature going to do to help them?

Fred Gerkens, Chapel Hill

NC infection rate

It should be obvious that North Carolina needs to drastically cut it COVID-19 infection rate, yet it continues to rise. We know what to do: Mandate masks and reimpose a lockdown.

Of course there will be another economic hit, but the current situation cannot continue. How long can restaurants and businesses limp along at 50% capacity (or less) because people are afraid to go out? How effective are schools going to be as teachers and students go in and out of quarantine after inevitable exposure?

Safety is paramount. Only when people feel safe, when the infection rate drops substantially, are they going to truly venture out and even begin to approach normalcy.

Gregory Lawless, Raleigh

Economic fallout

As the nation struggles with the COVID crisis, many North Carolinians will soon be challenged with a second crisis that will leave the working class struggling even more to make ends meet. On July 31, the CARES Act provision that provides an additional $600 per week in state unemployment insurance benefits will expire, leaving many households entirely reliant on the N.C. unemployment insurance system to keep lights on and food on the table.

That system — the result of policies ushered into law by Sen. Thom Tillis during his time in the N.C. General Assembly — is lopsided heavily to favor corporate interests at the expense of the same working class North Carolinians who now find themselves hit hardest by the pandemic’s economic fallout.

Instead of taking a two-week recess, Tillis needs to go back to Washington and do his job serving the people of North Carolina.

Ryan Schott, Raleigh

Selective history

When will this insanity stop? America wake up! We need to put a stop to the idea that if we are offended by something then we get rid of it. America is in desperate need of some common sense. When statues come down, we deprive all people of asking questions about it and what it stood for. Removing a statue does not right a wrong. We have no right to cherry-pick history.

Mark Drogos, Durham

Inclusive monuments

As we rightly begin to remove statues from the capitol grounds and other public places let’s take the opportunity to do better the next time around — actually memorializing worthy individuals who truly represent all the people and history of North Carolina.

There is already money earmarked for an African American monument, as there should be, but let’s make certain we include women, Latinos, native Americans, and others in this new environment. A citizens’ committee should ensure that the next ones are not politically divisive, but show our desire to be inclusive.

We can use the Recording Academy, which produces the Grammys, as a role model. It recently made a bold move to reverse its reputation as a “white boys’ club.” North Carolina should do the same. The moment is right and we have leadership at the top to make it happen.

Laura Stillman, Raleigh