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Wednesday's letters: Allow flexibility on entering kindergarten

 
Published March 31, 2015

Kindergarten

Allow flexibility on entrance date

When a child advances beyond preschool curriculum and is ready for kindergarten in Florida, unless her fifth birthday is before Sept. 1 she is stuck in a holding pattern for another year. This would change with the passage of SB 7006, which amends state law to allow early entrance to kindergarten as deemed appropriate by local district evaluation.

Florida is finally catching up with other states (such as Minnesota, Illinois and New York) in recognizing that decisions about a child's kindergarten readiness should not be set by state legislation but by local school districts evaluating children on an individual basis.

This bill won't lead to droves of parents hurrying to put children into school, but the accommodation should be available for those who need it. Research supports early entrance for children who are ready.

Kathleen Casper, New Port Richey

It's time to do something | March 27, letter

Celebrate the beautiful bay

This letter is spot-on. All the pier needs to be is a long, flat structure that allows you to fish or stroll out over the bay. Offer benches with memorial plaques for people to purchase in memory of loved ones, and place them beneath shade trees in raised beds down the center. You can have a couple of ice cream or hot dog trucks licensed by the city. It would pay for itself. Forget high-tech sound and light shows, Sydney Harbor extravaganzas and all that nonsense. The bay is beautiful. Just enjoy it and don't leave yet another structure for your children to pay for in 50 years when it rots.

Louise Donohue, Tampa

Dangerous dithering on medical marijuana March 28, editorial

Legislature goes own way

Your editorial regarding the Legislature's failure to address medical marijuana in light of the almost 60 percent voter approval rate is quite right.

However, there is a greater issue to be addressed. As we have seen with last November's Amendment 1, the Florida Legislature has made it quite clear that it feels no need to comply with even those constitutional amendments that do pass.

Moe Loogham, Lutz

From Kelmy's dad, forgiveness March 26, letter

Striving for forgiveness

I was moved by Shane Tiernan's open letter to the man who caused the crash that killed his son. I so admire his strength and ability to forgive, especially so soon after the tragedy. My 28-year-old son was killed in a crash caused by a driver under the influence of drugs and alcohol on March 2, 2013. I haven't been able to forgive, although I do not hate the person and sometimes feel sorry for her and her family.

Mr. Tiernan, you have made me think about forgiveness. Thank you. Our children are so special to us; it's hard to accept and move on. My son's name is Omar K. Carrión. He was a good son and friend.

Hilda Carrión, Omar's mom, Tampa

Hunter gets okay to kill black rhino March 27

Senseless slaughter

I was upset to learn that wealthy Texan Corey Knowlton submitted a winning $350,000 bid to the Namibian government for a permit to shoot an endangered black rhinoceros. I was even more outraged to learn that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service approved Knowlton's "application for a separate U.S. permit to import the carcass home as a trophy."

It isn't sport when the hunter is using a high-powered rifle with a sophisticated scope — it's an assassination committed by a sniper, and governments should never sponsor or condone the slaughter of endangered animals.

The justification used is that "older rhinoceros bulls are known to keep younger bulls from mating with cows in their groups even after the elder males can no longer reproduce." Isn't it oxymoronic to kill an innocent member of an endangered species in order "to increase the population"? Why not just separate the older bulls from the herd during mating season?

Doug Haskitt, St. Petersburg

Co-pilot 'too ill' to fly | March 28

Obligation to alert airline

I am a firm believer in doctor-patient confidentiality. I also feel that if a doctor thinks that a patient has serious mental issues and that patient holds a sensitive position such as airline pilot, the doctor should be required to report that person to the authorities.

John Waitman, Palm Harbor

Second chance on Rays deal | March 29, editorial

End small-town thinking

It is inconceivable that St. Petersburg's City Council can't figure out a way to talk to the Rays about a stadium and its location. They might want to take a lesson from New York and New Jersey. Both of the New York NFL teams play their games across the river in New Jersey. Imagine that, when many New Yorkers don't even want to admit that New Jersey exists. But they were smart enough to see the big picture.

Grow up, get a handle on it and sit down with Rays management. Stop posturing, start talking and make a fair deal. I don't believe it has to be that difficult. It would be shameful if parochial, small-town thinking causes the Rays to leave.

Scott Stewart, St. Petersburg

Shootings a mystery | March 27

Tragedy all too clear

There is no mystery to this tragedy. Three brothers (ages 16, 12 and 6) were arguing. They had access to loaded weapons. The 12-year-old decided to "win" the argument by shooting two brothers and then himself. I pray for the family of these boys.

If only we could turn this grief into the strength to silence those who insist more guns will make us safer.

Christel Vinson, Clearwater