NC needs STEM-savvy grads. Don’t ax earth science | Opinion

Earth science

As a retired science teacher, I was horrified by the N.C. legislature’s proposal to require students to take computer science and drop the earth science requirement.

Don’t 21st century high school students need to learn about the solar system, meteorology, the rock cycle and tectonic processes, to name a few earth science concepts? These topics are not covered in biology, as was implied by State Superintendent Catherine Truitt’s director of Government Affairs.

Computer skills are vital for today’s students, but do we have to increase their computer skills at the expense of the fundamentals of earth science? Let’s find another way. Reducing science instruction is not the path to producing STEM-competitive high school grads.

Leslie Haines, Burlington

LGBTQ kids

I was glad to read the Editorial Board’s Feb. 9 rebuttal of the Parents’ Bill of Rights, rightly claiming it is actually intended to “tell LGBTQ kids, especially trans kids, that they don’t matter.” LGBTQ kids and adults lives are sufficiently jeopardized in our society without adding another layer of harm, as this legislation would do. But I would point out further harm — to the student and parent body, as a whole. We live in a world that is wonderfully diverse — sexually, racially, religiously, culturally, and more. To deny the exploration and knowledge of that diversity at any age is to impoverish us all.

Sarah Stein, Raleigh

GOP hypocrisy

In our state, the GOP is making a big deal of the Parents’ Bill of Rights while at the same time trying to strip parents of the right to obtain gender-affirming care for their children. Parental rights, it seems, are just what N.C. Republicans say they are, no more, no less. At the national level, Republican lawmakers complain bitterly about the national debt while denying the IRS the resources needed to lower the deficit by collecting legitimately owed taxes from mostly wealthy people. For some in the GOP, it seems balancing the budget must be done on the backs of Social Security and Medicare recipients.

Peter Aitken, Chapel Hill

Light rail

We moved to the Triangle in the early ‘90s from Washington, D.C. and were thrilled to hear plans for light rail connecting Durham, Raleigh and RDU. GoTriangle was called Triangle Transit Authority back then, and here we are, 30 years later, still without it.

Back then, Interstate 40 was four lanes. Now, it’s eight lanes of bumper to bumper rush-hour traffic. Lawmakers in Raleigh allocated the money for that and outer loops, but sadly never for mass transit like in D.C. and Charlotte. Will GoTriangle succeed this time around? Let history be your judge.

Paul Andrews, Durham

Passing the torch

Having served for over 30 years on the N.C. Democratic Party Executive Committee in the past, I’ve seen a lot of changes in the party. Nothing I’ve ever witnessed approached what happened Feb. 11 when the torch was passed to a new generation of Democrats. I do not know the new party chair, Anderson Clayton, but my hat is off to her and her new generation of leadership. She has the opportunity to resurrect the party and make it viable again in all elections. Best of wishes to her and her leadership.

Dewey Sheffield, Wilson

2024 election

After listening to the State of the Union speech and numerous commentaries, one can only conclude that President Biden (age 80) relishes a rematch with Donald Trump (age 76) in the 2024 election. As a fellow senior citizen (age 72), I admire the enthusiasm and competitiveness displayed by Biden and Trump. However, I believe both should learn a lesson from NFL quarterback Tom Brady (age 45) and recognize that it is time to retire.

Hank Stroup, Raleigh

Medicare-X

With debt ceiling negotiations on the horizon, now is the perfect time for President Biden to push for Medicare-X. It’s the proposed public plan that would be offered to all ages and drastically reduce the cost of vital health insurance subsidies that are saving lives — but poking gigantic holes in the debt ceiling. By eliminating insurance company profits, wasteful lobbying and marketing expenses associated with plans offered on ACA exchanges, Medicare-X could instantly reduce the national debt while lowering deductibles and providing access to Medicare’s vast network of doctors and hospitals.

During his speech, Biden was great at twisting the GOP’s arm into agreeing not to sacrifice our beloved Medicare and Social Security. With Medicare-X injected into the debt ceiling standoff he can make them cry uncle.

Lou Meyers, Durham

Voting maps

For over a decade, the Republican-controlled state legislature has had the right to draw election maps. For many years before that, Democrats did. In an evenly divided state, being able to draw the maps is a huge advantage. The courts have moderated that advantage in the past, but now the N.C. and U.S. Supreme Courts are in Republican hands for the foreseeable future, so we can expect extreme partisanship. It’s too bad the courts did not protect democracy when they had the chance by mandating that independent commissions should draw the maps.

Hugh Mensch, Southern Pines