Letters to the Editor | Jan. 26, 2024

Jerry Jordan, who is retiring after 17 years as head of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, is receiving nothing but praise and plaudits for his successes (i.e., what he’s accomplished for the union’s rank and file) and nary a hint of criticism for his failures — the most glaring of which is his organization’s contributions to a school system that has been mired in woefully substandard performance throughout his tenure and remains so.

As noted in The Inquirer’s Jan. 16 article, “Jordan used to tell people he’d retire ‘when schools are as good as when I attended,’ and they’re not there yet, he said. But, ‘They’re getting there.’” Not really. In truth, the only thing trending up in Philadelphia schools is their exploding cost, thanks in large part to union efforts to win ever-increasing funding for a system of ever-increasing failure.

In another Inquirer article about Jordan, State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta said, “I have one word for Jerry: transformational.” There’s nothing “transformational” about a system that fails most kids and where no one gets benched, there are no calls for firings, no one is held accountable, nothing changes. Don’t get me wrong: I think good teachers deserve more money and bad teachers should lose their jobs, but in the union-owned system, there is no meritocracy. Good teachers with the best intentions burn out, and the poor outcomes that we’re seeing are a reflection of this system. Schools of choice have much more flexibility in removing bad teachers, and the students’ outcomes show it.

Despite these schools’ successes, the unions continue to fight to keep them underfunded or to rescind the legislation that allows them to exist. Why? Because schools that operate outside traditional union-controlled systems are beyond the unions’ reach, diluting their power and, worst of all, costing them money.

Janine Yass, Yass Foundation for Education

In 1968, Eugene McCarthy got 42% of the primary vote in New Hampshire and Lyndon Johnson got 50%. It was considered a large victory for McCarthy because he put a major dent in Johnson’s candidacy. On Tuesday, Donald Trump garnered 54% of the primary vote to Nikki Haley’s 43%. This is considered a major victory for Trump and a major defeat for Haley. Yet it seems that if he is such a strong candidate, he should have done much better than he did. Haley had a respectable showing, and the results show a Republican Party that is split, or at least at this point not all in for Trump. He may still stomp Haley in future primaries, but it seems likely that she will get at least 30% of the vote. The results in Iowa and New Hampshire do not bode well for Trump in the general election.

George Magakis Jr., Norristown

I could hardly finish the op-ed by Meredith Elizalde due to the tears clouding my vision. It was horrifying to read that Elizalde considers testifying before the Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee to have been harder than watching her precious boy die in her arms. What will it take? The United States has 19 times the rate of firearm deaths than France, 32 times that of Australia, and 75 times that of Germany. Like many other mothers and grandmothers, I join every gun control group I can support. It’s not enough, but I pray that God gives Elizalde the strength to keep fighting in her son’s memory, and for the children who everyday face the risk of gun violence in a country obsessed with guns. We need commonsense gun reform: ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, and institute background checks for all gun sales. With deepest sympathy to Nick Elizalde’s mother and his family.

Margie Micaletti, Philadelphia

. . .

The deaths of 23 children in Philadelphia who lost their lives to gun violence in 2023 are devastating and unacceptable. For every young life cut short, there are parents, siblings, relatives, and friends left to suffer the excruciating trauma of such a loss. For far too long we have been caught up in a debate about whether we should blame the guns used in these horrific crimes or the people who pull the trigger. Let’s stop this endless cycle of blame and accept that, clearly, it’s both. Let’s commit ourselves to addressing issues of mental health, poverty, and a pervasive culture of violence that runs through much of our society. We must also commit ourselves to finding a way to embrace the commonsense gun control efforts that most Americans support.

These 23 child deaths and the hundreds of other children who were gunned down across the country cannot simply be dismissed as random acts of evil. They were, in part, the result of millions of dollars spent every year by gun manufacturers and gun lobbyists to ensure the silence and complicity of our elected officials — dollars spent to keep the guns flowing and the blame game raging; dollars spent to block even the most modest efforts to keep guns out of the hands of the wrong people and ensure that guns are kept and stored safely. We know these simple, very doable things work to save lives. Yes, there is plenty of blame to go around — let’s accept that and do everything we can to end the senseless slaughter of our children on the streets of Philadelphia.

Donna Cooper, executive director, Children First, Philadelphia, donnac@childrenfirstpa.org

The bell in the tower of Central Moravian Church, located about a block and a half from my home, chimes hourly. It’s a real bell; I’ve seen it. I’ve even tapped on it, hearing it sound a far quieter version of the ding that resonates across town. The disgruntled neighbors who are complaining about the noise coming from Holy Name of Jesus Church at Berks and Gaul Streets might be far more understanding if the sound was acoustic, not electronic. Perhaps the archdiocese could move a real Philly bell from a closed parish to Fishtown. Real bells speak to the heart.

John Marquette, Bethlehem, johnmarquette@gmail.com

Last year, the Union League was so enamored with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis that it bestowed on him its prestigious gold medal (first awarded to Abraham Lincoln), as well as a tranche of donor cash. Some of its members and many in the community were outraged, seeing this recognition as an affront to our sensibilities. It was not the Union League’s finest hour. Now, after his campaign loss in Iowa, the diminutive bully is back at home in Florida, humiliated and exposed as a deeply flawed candidate who was clearly not good enough. With Mickey Mouse awaiting his return, DeSantis is busy covering his tracks, kissing the ring of America’s insurrectionist-in-chief and hoping to regain some credibility with MAGA Republicans.

Kenneth R. Garrett, Ambler

My heart breaks at the killing of anyone, at any age. That includes when the state does it. The state represents us, and the killing of someone declared guilty of a capital crime is in all our names. It is not simply for the family of the understandably aggrieved. This is not about revenge but about an old idea of correcting a wrong. After years of seeing the inequity of how the death penalty was applied, many have realized it is inadequate. The data are clear: It does not deter crime, and innocent people sometimes end up on death row.

Today, we know more about psychology, brain, and behavior development. We know healing comes in different ways. I look at a young person who has murdered another young person and I ache for both. What was it in his life that made him think picking up a gun and shooting someone was an answer? As a society, we need to be pondering that last question and acting like it is an important one. Instead of picking up guns — at any age — we need to deal with conflict in life-giving ways. And we need to help this grieving family — and likely the killer’s family — heal.

Joan Gunn Broadfield, Chester, broadfieldje@gmail.com

Republican primary voters have an opportunity to reclaim some honor for their party by rejecting Donald Trump’s bid for the Republican presidential nomination and voting for Nikki Haley. It will also avoid the embarrassment of the party when Trump’s appeals for total presidential immunity are rejected, and he is convicted in one or more of his pending criminal trials. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is presiding over the trial regarding Trump’s efforts to subvert the 2020 election, felt compelled to issue a gag order on Trump to ensure no attacks on judges, jurors, or judicial staff. His appeal for removal of the gag order was rejected by the appellate court. It’s bad enough being indicted, but even worse when he feels free to attack the legal system. Certainly not a respectable candidate for president

Brewster Hudson, Downingtown

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