Opinion Archives - Page 266 of 319

Fund art education

Instruction in the arts strengthens problem solving and creative thinking, bridges cultural differences, and improves students’ confidence

by CRAIG SHAFER May 24, 2011August 17, 2023

I commend Walter Reil for most of his observations in his commentary “STEM the tide” (May 17). It is true, I hear it all the time from educators, that the No Child Left Behind Act in fact really means “most children left behind.” Its principle focus—testing—certainly is a national crime. However, Reil neglects to acknowledge […]

Opinion

Where do you get your produce?

by Sun Staff May 19, 2011January 26, 2023

Joanne Thompson Macy’s cosmetic manager “I get my vegetables at Vons or Trader Joe’s.” Katie Dwyer teacher “Spencer’s Market because they always have fresh produce.” Roy Hansen artist and art teacher “Fresh n’ Easy or Spencer’s Market.” James Michaelis custodian “I get produce wherever it is cheapest or on sale.”

Opinion

STEM the tide

Community support of science, technology, and math education is critical

by WALTER REIL May 17, 2011August 17, 2023

Our nation’s prosperity depends on the education of our students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), yet their proficiency in such subjects is deplorable. Increasingly, our students lack access to rigorous STEM curricula and hands-on STEM activities or avoid them where such challenging courses are still available. No wonder U.S. students rank 17th internationally in […]

Opinion

If you were bitten by something radioactive and gained its power, what would you want it to be?

by Sun Staff May 12, 2011January 26, 2023

Omar Ceballos student “Super strength, so I can be stronger than anyone else.” Josh Santos student “Invisibility, so I can be sneaky [and] go wherever.” Luis Carbajal student “Psychic powers, so I can control people.” Jaime Meraz student “To be able to fly. I can get anywhere easily—and no more gas.”

Opinion

Look where Reaganomics brought us

Atascadero

by Judy Ransom May 11, 2011August 31, 2022

Thank you, thank you, Jim Duenow (“Beware of the soulless corporations,” April 28). Someone finally has put the whole damnable corporate position into eloquent full view. I am tearing out this piece for my own use in telling people what I see and what I believe to be the truth abut corporations. If Reaganomics had […]

Opinion

We will have a two-term president

Santa Barbara

by Bart Kennedy May 10, 2011August 31, 2022

Mr. Bargenquast is wrong in many ways (“Do not let Obama win again,” April 28). For starters, Obama will be re-elected in 2012. Modern presidents usually are: “Bill” Clinton, ’92 and ’96; “W,” ’00 and ’04. Beyond that, Republicans don’t seem to have a decent candidate. In truth, President Obama inherited an economic “mess” from […]

Opinion

Don’t forget how stocks motivate corporations

Pismo Beach

by Ron Holt May 10, 2011August 17, 2023

Kudos for the good opinion piece by Jim Duenow (“Beware of the soulless corporations,” April 28). I can’t disagree with his fundamental points, but would like to add a couple of my own. Corporations may be inherently amoral, but the people who run them are not necessarily so, even though they’re legally expected to be […]

Opinion

Think before you criticize corporations

Santa Maria

by Norman Mehl May 10, 2011August 31, 2022

Nearly every day there is some article complaining about the wealthy and the corporations (“Beware of the soulless corporations,” April 28). There are some of us who hope that we could become one of the wealthy. All it takes is a good idea and enough money to put at risk. When you look at the […]

Opinion

Our Pearl Harbor moment

Changing the built environment – making it healthy, energy efficient, and job creating – is not something merely pleasant, nor an aesthetic wish. It is the code blue response to a life-endangering crisis.

by RICHARD JACKSON May 10, 2011August 17, 2023

The world we are giving our children and grandchildren is in critical condition, wracked by a terrible combination of social, environmental, and economic catastrophes. We must no longer deal with these ongoing calamities in an atomized, piecemeal way as we did during the last century, because, as we are now beginning to recognize, they are […]

Opinion

What’s your dream piñata?

by Sun Staff May 5, 2011January 26, 2023

Ben Lukens student “Maybe a giant SpongeBob—that would be funny.” Janet Silveria chief operating officer “A sombrero, so I’m not hurting an animal.” Lizzett Cuadros new accounts representative “A toro—that would be pretty cool. Only because that would be fun.” Jose Parra hairdresser “I’d only hit one shaped like a star, because I couldn’t hit […]

Opinion

Honor immigrants, celebrate diversity

I am inspired and humbled to glimpse how some recent immigrants from mainland China strive to succeed in a new home very different from their origins

by ED CONNOLLY May 4, 2011August 31, 2022

I accompanied a Chinese friend to renew her business license at City Hall, where we filled out several forms and were sent to another office a few blocks away to complete more. The clerk at the second office saw my friend’s mailing address is in San Gabriel—not the Santa Maria address of the business—and mentioned […]

Opinion

Allow the county to correct you

on behalf of Chandra Waller, Santa Barbara County executive officer

by Cam Van Wingerden May 3, 2011August 31, 2022

On April 28, the Sun ran a cartoon indicating that Santa Barbara County management employees have maintained the ability to cash out vacation time (vacation conversion) while non-management employees have had that ability taken from them. The purpose of this correspondence is to provide you with correct information and request that you publish the correction. […]