‘Tiger’ mothers and parenting; new seniority rules for teachers; a controversial Smithsonian exhibit

The tale of the ‘Tiger’

Re “Parenting experts tackle ‘Tiger,’ ” Jan. 23

A motivated, driven individual of any class, color or creed can become her own drill sergeant, no Chinese “Tiger Mother” needed.

Despite the backlash over author Amy Chua’s denial to her children of bathroom or water breaks, I imposed similar discipline on myself from middle to graduate school. Regarding the denial of play dates and the ostracization from not watching television, children can socialize with their siblings, who are raised with similar rules, to overcome isolation.

Think of Aesop’s fable of the ant and the grasshopper. As the East rises in fields such as math that demand sheer hard work, the West cannot let complacency turn us into grasshoppers.

Lynda Nguyen

San Francisco

Although one of the keystones of a successful education is parental support, students must be allowed to assume personal responsibility for their learning and to learn the importance of budgeting their time.

Young people whose autonomy is taken from them risk their ability to learn such a lesson.

Students must be allowed to succeed or fail on their own and to learn from their experiences. So-called Tiger mothers must realize that turning children into automatons removes growth factors that are just as important, if not more so, than what is learned from excessive drilling.

Many of these youths no longer have the time to simply enjoy the pleasures of young life and are forced into the anxieties of adulthood much too soon.

Milton B. Rouse

Dana Point

I’ll take my fun-loving all-American girl over Chua’s robot child any day of the week.

Liz McNabb

Costa Mesa

A strong rope and a stout tree

Re “Loss of drug new setback for death penalty,” Jan. 22

It is incredible that we have become so caring in putting the condemned to death.

Years ago, when bullets were too expensive, hanging was the method of choice. It occasionally resulted in decapitation, which was messy but did the job.

With Edison’s commercialization of electricity, we moved to the electric chair.

Why we continue to look for a humane approach when the condemned have raped, tortured and killed their victims is politically incorrect foolishness. A slug to the brain is quick, effective and doesn’t cost a lot.

Spending more than $250,000 on an execution chamber is sheer stupidity. It’s no wonder California has a budget problem.

Thomas L. Pincu

Los Angeles

Though California is currently well stocked with sodium thiopental, Hospira’s decision to discontinue producing the drug will have consequences here and in all death penalty states.

Amending the lethal injection protocols will undoubtedly be a long, hard slog — the last change took California four years to ratify — and will provide the state another opportunity to consider the one life-saving and economical alternative to using thiopental: abolishing the death penalty.

It is the only option that ensures the state would save about $1 billion over the next five years and protect human life.

Zac Stone

San Francisco

So, the U.S. prohibits the importation of drugs from foreign countries because they may be unsafe, but will allow the importation of drugs to put people to death. Does anyone see an inconsistency? Just asking.

Saralea Altman

Valley Glen

Saying so long to seniority

Re “Teachers no longer safe in seniority,” Jan. 22

Thanks to the ACLU, L.A. Unified School District teachers have lost a key ingredient that lets them be good teachers.

Tenure protects teachers who try to go beyond the mindless curriculum near and dear to the heart of educational bureaucrats. Now those bureaucrats have been handed a great weapon to further their goal of demolishing the teachers union.

No thought is given to fighting for adequate staffing and funding for all schools. Such short-sightedness is pathetic.

At least conservatives who want to destroy public education stab teachers in the heart. Good liberals stab us in the back.

Philip Brimble

Los Angeles

The pay is substandard given the education required. Policymakers tell you how to perform your job, and when it doesn’t work, you get the blame. Your classrooms are overcrowded.

The media report on how horrible our public education system is and how it’s all your fault. Few respect your opinion. And now the job security you had is being taken away.

Why would any decent, caring person go into the teaching profession today?

Linda Barnett

Anaheim

Once teacher seniority is done away with in this era of tight school budgets, the evaluation system to determine which teachers get to keep their job will be this: new teacher equals cheap teacher equals good teacher. Experienced teachers, who are the most highly paid, will be the first to go.

Marlin Sobbota

Arcadia

Arguing over an exhibit

Re “A hasty call at Smithsonian,” Feb. 21

Given the current climate of political discourse, it’s no wonder Smithsonian chief G. Wayne Clough felt enormous pressure to pull a video from the “Hide/Seek” exhibit.

As a museum professional, I find it deplorable that GOP Reps. John A. Boehner and Eric Cantor are threatening funding for the Smithsonian over one exhibit.

Are they now the arbiters of what should and should not be called anti-Christian?

I also find the Catholic League’s labeling the video excerpt as “hate speech” a bit of an overreaction. I would ask them all to let me decide if these exhibits cross the line.

Americans condemn religious extremists on both sides of the spectrum, especially when it involves religious freedom or political expression. Isn’t this the same thing?

Steven J. Dugan

Upland

Because three-quarters of the Smithsonian’s budget comes from our tax dollars, why should we be subjected to a crude and insulting attack on any religion? This time it’s ants crawling over a crucifix. Another time it was a crucifix immersed in urine. Another time it was the mother of Christ with elephant dung.

What if the Star of David, a picture of the prophet Muhammad or a statue of Buddha were treated this way? Would it still be considered art, and its removal censorship?

If hate speech is not to be tolerated, perhaps hate “art” should be in the same category.

Mary Curtius

Carlsbad

Making nice

Re “Congress’ widening aisle,” Editorial, Jan. 21

Your comments are right on the mark. Civility needs to be enforced on the campaign trail as well as during debates in the House and Senate and in public comments by politicians.

You also note the “outsize influence of interest groups on both legislation and debate.” To ensure civility on the campaign trail, these same influences need to be curbed during campaigns.

We need campaign finance reform to eliminate the extraordinary influence of special interests that contributes so much to the acrimony and vitriol in politics.

Gary and Vallerie Steenson

San Luis Obispo

In Vernon

Re “Army of lawyers guards little Vernon,” Jan. 22

How much more in-your-face can these “leaders” be in the fight to keep their little fiefdom running?

Now’s a great time for some smart lawyers (read bigger guns) to do some pro bono work for officials seeking to unincorporate the city and shut these scammers down once and for all. Don’t let this story end like David and Goliath.

Mark Storhaug

Pacific Palisades