Class size very important with undisciplined students

Re: “Quality schoolteachers more important than class size,” April 23

As a schoolteacher, I would be a fool to disagree with Matthew Ladner regarding teacher pay in the United States.  We want the best teachers, but we are not willing to pay a premium price.

On the other hand, Ladner’s analysis of class size shows a distinct lack of understanding about classrooms in the United States — or Korea. Perhaps Ladner and the Goldwater Institute should expand their research just a bit.

I could easily teach a class of 60 students if they behaved like the disciplined students in South Korean schools. They wear uniforms, respect their teachers, speak only when spoken to and value their education because their parents force that value on them, and if one of them gets the least bit out of line, they are severely punished or face complete expulsion.

That is a stark difference from the United States, where students dress like bums and prostitutes as a means of “self-expression,” have little or no respect for their teachers, talk incessantly and value the grade but not the knowledge. Teachers cannot criticize students for fear of damaging their self-esteem, and if they step out of line, neither the teacher nor the administration will take any punitive action for fear of drawing a lawsuit. 

In such an environment, a classroom of 20 is too large. It only takes two or three disruptive students to ruin the learning experience for an entire class. 

South Korea did choose wisely. It chose not to let the students take over the classroom.

David Williams

Fairfax

Fraud shows Metro’s financial controls failed again

How could a Metro employee get away with stealing more than half a million dollars before getting caught? Where are the internal controls at Metro? 

I wonder if this may be the tip of the iceberg and turn out to be similar to the Metro parking fees scandal of a few years ago.

Brian Hattery

Alexandria

Voters should just pick the best candidates and go vote

Re: “Lower black turnout crippled Obama in Pennsylvania,” April 24

With reference to Chris Stirewalt’s column about Barack Obama’s political fortunes in Pennsylvania, it is my fervent hope and prayer that one day the American electorate will grow up to the point of voting for political candidates on the basis of who has the best ideas for America in spite of their sex and racial identity, rather than because of these considerations.

Lawrence K. Marsh

Gaithersburg

No such thing as morals in U.S. politics anymore

Re: “Hillary victory sends the wrong campaign message,” From Readers, April 24

I am not sure where Deidre Glascoe has been in the past, but welcome to politics. The United States has been without morals for a long time. She sounds as though she has some religious background, so let’s try this: 

1. God said you should not kill. We change “kill” to abortion and then it’s OK.

 2. God said you should not lie. Tell me a politician who has not lied and dug up dirt on another candidate.  They will do anything — lie, cheat, steal, etc. — to stay in office.

What really bothers me is that the politicians are intimidated by their seniors on Capitol Hill and don’t vote the way they feel is right, but go along with what the party wants. We are reaping what we sow. 

As a 20-year retired Air Force veteran, I vote for candidates I believe will do the best for the military. But we are in serious trouble as a nation. Only hope is from God, who promises that “if my people ... will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

Don McIntire

Arlington

Student essay made an excellent point

Re: “Compromise is America’s lost civic virtue,” April 21

Bravo! Andrew Rys has eloquently written about a point I have held for a couple of decades, but have never put it into print as well as Rys has.

Surely, the art of compromise has vanished from our political processes.

John D. White

Arlington