Staying after school used to be a dreaded punishment reserved formisbehaving students. Today, after school simply means an extensionof the school day in an effort to improve test scores and,presumably, to support the academic achievement of public schoolstudents.
Now comes word that increasing numbers of students, includingfirst- and second-graders, will be required to stay after school("More to stay after school: 50,000 students could be affected," newsstory, Aug. 13). While people of good will debate the value of thisextended school day and its effect on academic achievement, there isanother reason to be cautious of this "the more time in school thebetter" approach.
Anyone knowledgeable about the developmental needs of youngchildren understands there is more to growing up than getting aneducation in a structured school setting. Healthy communitiessupport a broad array of resources: Little Leagues, library programs,fine arts instruction, music lessons, Scouting, culturalopportunities, etc. These resources support and extend the work ofthe schools by placing reading, writing and intellectual curiosity inthe context of honing social skills, learning appropriaterelationships with members of the opposite sex, developingself-confidence, exploring hobbies and special interests anddeveloping trusting relationships with caring adults in a variety ofsettings.
Community-based organizations in Chicago, such as Chicago YouthCenters, provide many of these primary resources and opportunitiesfor kids in communities where such resources are often scarce. Theafter-school hours are a time when kids can attend a youth center orneighborhood youth club and experience activities that are criticalto their healthy growth and development - and they do all that in anatmosphere that is relaxed and fun. To fill a child's day frommorning to night with the serious and intense business of getting upto grade level (as honorable a goal as that may be) is to take fromthe child the opportunity to integrate what is learned at school withhis or her experience of the larger world.
A wealth of resources exists in Chicago's community-basedorganizations. We support a dynamic partnership between schools andsuch organizations so that kids can emerge into adulthood with notonly the ability to read and write, but also the ability to relatewell to peers and adults, to know the world beyond theirneighborhoods and to have the confidence and skills to make it in theadult world. Such a partnership enhances the work of schools andhelps to produce children with the ability to meet the world with joyand self-confidence. Delbert W. Arsenault, president, Chicago YouthCenters Saving on auto parts
A financial story (Aug. 8) reported on a class-action lawsuitfiled against State Farm Insurance Co. regarding its use ofaftermarket parts in the repair of vehicles damaged in crashes.While arguments will be made by both sides during the trialconcerning the view by plaintiffs that autos repaired withaftermarket parts are not returned to "pre-loss condition," webelieve that consumers also need to be aware of the economic forcesat play.
The Alliance of American Insurers represents 275 property andcasualty insurance companies. Our members support the use ofcompetitive replacement parts approved by the Certified AutomotiveParts Association, which tests and provides a seal of approval forauto parts produced by independent manufacturers. In large part, itis these competitive replacement parts that will be compared withthose provided by the original equipment manufacturer during thelegal action. Our research shows that original equipmentmanufacturers still control $7.2 billion of the $9 billion market,despite the existence of competitive replacement parts that have, insome instances, caused them to reduce prices on some parts to meetcompetition.
Just how lucrative is the original-parts market? This year'salliance study shows that a 1999 Toyota Camry LE that retails for$23,623 would cost $101,335.55, not including paint and labor, iftotally demolished and put back together using original parts.
The cost of repairing damaged automobiles accounts for 40 percentto 50 percent of the premium charged to insure them. Therefore, thecost of replacement parts has a significant, direct impact on theprice consumers pay for auto insurance. We believe that certifiedreplacement parts, such as hoods, fenders, door panels and grillshave been proven worthy in returning damaged autos to pre-losscondition. Their availability has eased the price that originalequipment manufacturers have charged for similar parts.
The class-action lawsuit now under way might be painted byplaintiffs as a challenge to worthiness of aftermarket parts, but itwould be a mistake to ignore the competitive struggle. The originalequipment manufacturers win if insurers are discouraged by class-action lawsuits from using competitive replacement parts. Consumerslose the positive impact that replacement part competition has had oninsurance premiums. Kirk R. Hansen, director of claims, Alliance ofAmerican Insurers, Downers Grove No monkey's uncle
Dennis Byrne's column ("Two views of same reality," Aug. 18)caused me to give thought to the fact that a great many people stillthink that humanity, with all of its awesome complexities, derivedits beginnings from tree-hopping furry, apelike creatures.
Although we are indeed a close imitation, perhaps in behavioronly, how can anyone come to this conclusion and be serious about it?
Humans, born with intelligence, conscience and the ability toreason, have most certainly derived their gift - to be - from a powerabove and beyond, whose purpose for this creation has yet to unfold.
From the dinosaurs that roamed the Earth billions of years ago, toa myriad of animals that exist now, evolution may seem a credibleexplanation to some as to how everything came to be, but I would hopethat the majority would agree that each time they visit a zoo and seean ape, they would find comfort in the fact that they are notrelated. Antoinette Strzempa, West Elsdon Man of the cloth
Robert Wheat (Letters, Aug. 13) wrote: "Today when people go toworship, they dress as if they are going to a rummage sale. Why doreligious leaders allow it? . . . Can't we dress our best for ourcreator?"
Wheat's comments betray a common hypocrisy: placing theappearance of respectability above the deeper demands of living amorally enlightened life.
Did Jesus - presumably a "religious leader" with some stature inWheat's eyes - ever take issue with the clothing worn by those towhom he preached? When I imagine the Sermon on the Mount, I see across-section of society, including people "dressed like bums."Let's be thankful Wheat was not one of Jesus' congregationaladvisers, or else a good portion of Christ's flock would have beenreprimanded or dismissed for the condition of their fleece.
People like Wheat crowd churches every Sunday and miss the mostradical and uplifting dimensions of Jesus' teaching, partly becausethey are too busy staring down their noses at the clothing worn bytheir fellow worshipers. Robert Sandoval, Crestwood Hitler tookguns, too
Dennis Byrne's column ("Snake oil for a violent society," Aug. 15)asks how gun legislation can help when there are 190 million gunsalready out there? "Go into every house under every bed, to identifyand license every owner? Take away every weapon?" Bingo - that'sexactly the agenda.
Adolf Hitler did the same thing in the name of "public safety,"and he had the support of the media. He was already named Timemagazine's Man of the Year in 1938. Byrne also says "no right isabsolute."
Well, when I read the Constitution, it says rights are"inalienable," which means unchangeable. The Constitution alsostates that these rights were given by God, not by any government,and since government did not create the people, but the peoplecreated government, government's duty is to protect the individual'srights!
There is more to gun legislation than these isolated incidentsaround the country with emotion-whipped coverage by the instant newsmedia and the babble and pandering of the snake oil salesmen. Whyare these snake oil salesmen so interested in gun legislation? Maybethey have read and understood the Second Amendment, or moreimportant, Thomas Jefferson's quote "the beauty of the SecondAmendment is that it won't be needed until they try to take it."
Who were "they"? Who is more afraid of the Second Amendment:those living with the Constitution or those who want to change theConstitution? When listening to the snake oil salesmen, listen towhat they are not saying, not to the hissing. Brad Wargin, Frankfort
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