Letters

Editor,

I agree with H. Clark and Beth Shafran-Mukai’s letters against the abuse of eminent domain. We should all be concerned about this increasing abuse. My husband and I are part of an all-volunteer effort to get a measure on the ballot in November to put a limit on the abuse of eminent domain so that the city can’t force the owner of private property to sell their land so that a developer can build a private development. If you would like to help or sign a petition, please go to www.LimitEminentDomain.org or call (650) 208-5229.

Marge Parkhurst

Redwood City

Unnecessary modification

Editor,

Regarding plans to modify the intersection of Highway 101 and Peninsula Avenue here in San Mateo — and adjoining Burlingame — it has been publicly announced that three or more possible plans are being studied.

Those plans propose to destroy homes and businesses in San Mateo and Burlingame.

There is land adjacent to and beyond the freeway, which is not occupied by homes. To me, it seems completely preposterous to even think of destroying homes and businesses on the western side of the freeway when there is a golf course, drainage space and county park land on the eastern side.

Expanding freeway approaches on the western side would deprive people of home and businesses and create public resentment.

It would be far less costly to reconfigure the golf course and park area than buying up and destroying million-dollar homes. Please rethink this.

George E. Golding

San Mateo

Fantasy world teacher

Editor,

I’m a teacher in the fantasy world of James Geranios ("Teachers make a good wage” guest perspective in the March 20) .

I have friends who teach in the real world — shhh. Don’t let them know how easy I have it.

While they arrive early for yard duty, or to set up the classroom for hands-on activities, or to write problems on the board for when their students arrive, I casually waltz into my classroom at 8 a.m. right along with the kids.

My real-world teacher friends usually forfeit their recess breaks to dry a student’s tears, make photocopies, give individual assistance to a struggling student, get the classroom ready for the after-recess lesson, help their students settle a misunderstanding or for yard duty.

Sometimes, they take a few minutes to use the restroom and to grab something to snack on while they continue working. Not me. I usually squeeze in a quick nap during recess. While my real-world friends stay after school every day to work with students who need help, meet with a parent, coach after-school sports, advise a student who’s going through a difficult time, direct practice for an upcoming school play, or attend faculty meetings, I just scoot right out the door with my students promptly at 3:15 p.m.

Write lesson plans? Bring home a stack of essays and write suggestions in the margins? Grade long-term projects? Look over the work shown on math tests to see what I need to re-teach?

Magic fairies do all that for me, while I kick up my feet and watch television. Attend seminars to keep my credential current and to learn about new and exciting findings on effective teaching methods? Adjust my lesson plans from last year so that they better fit the needs of this year’s particular group of students? Stay up nights thinking of creative ways to inspire my kids or to make learning fun? Spend time trying to help my students score higher on state tests?

Not necessary.

My students automatically have a thorough understanding of every new concept presented to them. They stay focused and on-task every second of every day. They’re all little robots with no emotions or personalities. Every student is exactly alike, so I never feel any need to be sensitive to individual students who are having personal problems, or to research innovative ways to help someone who may learn differently. Thank God I don’t teach in the real world.

Chris Brennis

San Carlos

America not a

nation of immigrants

Editor,

With the issue of illegal immigration coming to a boil, we are hearing and reading more and more frequently that this is a nation of immigrants.

When the pilgrims arrived on these shores in the 1600s they were essentially invading the homeland of the indigenous people (Indians).

Before the Declaration of Independence, the founding fathers (Washington, Madison, Franklin, Adams) were British subjects. But, of the 56 signers of the declaration, all but eight were born on this soil. People are constantly referring to themselves as Italian or Irish or German or whatever. If you were born here, you are American. Not Italian-American, Irish-American, African-American or any other kind of hyphenated American. I am of English and Irish descent. I am proud of my heritage, but I am not English/Irish-American, I’m American. The population of this country is approaching 300 million. So far the vast majority of the population was born here.

If things continue the way they have been, who knows how long that will be true. However, as things stand now, this is not a nation of immigrants.

It is time that the people of this country look at themselves as American, and nothing else.

John Hogben

Belmont

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