The fraught way we talk about student success
Scarsdale, N.Y.: I would just like to throw something out as the debate over “gifted and talented” programs rages between the candidates for mayor. There are valid points being made on both sides of the divide, but perhaps there is another serious change to consider that affects all the young children in our system.
Over the years, I’ve been seriously opposed to both words being used and how they can affect youngsters as they are taking their first awkward educational steps. “Advanced” programs or “accelerated” programs would imply that parents and their children are choosing a heavier workload or one at a faster pace. Any adult understands what is implied if we were to sign on to a course marked in such a way. We all hear it and get it. No offense implied.
However, “talented” and “gifted” put a heavy label on those chosen. Worse yet are the thousands of children in the system who might then see themselves as untalented or not gifted. We all develop at different speeds and struggle to find our way. Those talents and gifts are more often than not developed over a lifetime.
I believe the programs have merit and should continue. But as parents, educators and administrators, and even mayoral candidates, let’s possibly choose our labels more carefully and thoughtfully. Words matter. There are thousands of young developing minds listening. Paul Christie
Go another way
Howard Beach: Only about 25% of NYC will vote in the election for mayor. Why? Because it’s the Democratic candidate who wins. Why waste your time and energy? But this election will be different. You have three candidates. This is not your usual election. Wake up, New Yorkers! Zohran Mamdani is not your ordinary candidate. He’s a socialist! He promises free things for New Yorkers. Come on, you’re not stupid! Anything free always comes at a price. And who will pay? The working New Yorkers will, and dearly. Now, if 50% of New Yorkers vote, Mamdani will lose! Andrew Cuomo is not the answer. Cuomo is bad news, just like Mamdani. There is only one candidate who has integrity and a true love for NYC. So vote this time, because your livelihood depends on it. Protect yourselves, New Yorkers, vote for Curtis Sliwa! Nick Di Pasquale
Empowered protests
Manhattan: Mamdani’s lead in the race for mayor would evaporate if New Yorkers knew what he intends to do. One of the most frightening things he said he would do is not allow the NYPD to interfere with pro-Palestinian protests. What would have happened at Grand Central Terminal when pro-Hamas protesters took over if there had been no police? Would anyone be able to get home? Would anyone want to be trapped among those protesters? What about the massive protests on the anniversary of the massacre of Israeli families on Oct. 7? What about the protests on the Brooklyn Bridge? What would happen to car drivers stuck on the bridge if there were no police there? Gamaliel Isaac
Peace through strength
Henderson, Nev.: Give Trump the Nobel Peace Prize. With the hopeful Israel and Hamas deal, I can’t think of anyone who deserves it more than President Trump, who believes in peace through strength. Bravo! David Tulanian
Didn’t happen
Yonkers: Regarding Trump’s Nobel Peace Prize campaign, it looks like the White House chimney smoke came out black! John Flood
Gotta earn it
Woodland Park, N.J.: The White House says the Nobel Committee “put politics over peace” by denying Trump the Peace Prize. That’s rich coming from an administration that’s turned the Justice Department into a personal hit squad. If Oslo is guilty of politicizing peace, Trump is guilty of politicizing justice. One denies a medal, the other rewrites the rules to seek revenge. Let’s be honest: If Trump wants a prize, he can always print one. He’s done it before — remember the fake Time magazine “Man of the Year” cover he hung at his golf clubs? Still, if the current ceasefire holds, maybe next year he’ll earn one the real way. Patience is part of peace, too. Peace isn’t a press release, and justice isn’t a loyalty test. Legacy isn’t built in gold foil, it’s built in restraint. John Dent
Nod to the opposition
Los Angeles: It’s poetic justice that a deserving individual from Venezuela, María Corina Machado, won the Nobel Prize instead of our American president — I refuse to dignify his name in my letter — who is directly responsible for the murder of Venezuelan fishermen off the coast of Venezuela, an international war crime of the highest magnitude. Gil Favor
Piece-grabber
Matawan, N.J.: The only award Trump is entitled to is the “No Balls Piece Prize” for sending National Guard units and the U.S. Army into Democratic cities to obtain a piece of them. He also wants a piece of Greenland, Iceland and Gaza, where he wants to establish a Trump resort and golf course. Of course, there’s also the masked, untrained ICE and federal agent goons that he sets upon the American people to “promote peace.” He tried to bully the Nobel Committee into selecting him, but sorry, Donnie, the committee isn’t made up of spineless Republicans like the ones in our Congress. Oh, and speaking of peace, slava Ukraine. You know, day-one settlement. Robert Wyshynski
Stop spreading pain
Scarsdale, N.Y.: If Trump recalls the troops from U.S. cities and instructs ICE agents to actually detain bad guys and not the undocumented workers who help keep this country running, then maybe he might get that Nobel Peace Prize he’s obsessed with. John Kern
Anti-crime initiative
Greenville, S.C.: It’s great that Trump has called out the National Guard to places like Washington, D.C. and now Memphis, saying the presence is needed in these crime-ridden cities. And now Chicago. People should stay close to their parents and families and not do all this mischief. In moving to establish the Memphis Safe Task Force, Trump said the troops will work alongside federal and state authorities with agencies such as the FBI, DEA and ICE to halt crime. Gov. Bill Lee in Tennessee was in the Oval Office when Trump signed this executive order. Lee thanked Trump for the National Guard presence, saying he was “tired of crime holding the great city of Memphis back.” Steven Hawkins
Their own medicine
Yonkers: With inestimable, jaw-dropping hypocrisy, the leftist Democrats and their sycophants in the media are describing the indictments of former FBI Director James Comey and N.Y. Attorney General Letitia James as “lawfare” and the “weaponization” of the Justice Department. They conveniently ignore the fact that they are the ones who perfected such tactics against Trump for the past 10 years based on fabricated evidence, as opposed to Comey and James having actual documentation supporting the cases against them. Their dissembling double standard continues to set all-time records. James McCaffrey
Not enough
Brooklyn: As Mike Lupica says, the Yankees are good but not good enough. Since Brian Cashman decided to hire Aaron Boone, the Yankees have been competitive but not championship caliber. In the Bronx, being competitive was never good enough. It’s about winning championships. The late George Steinbrenner set that standard when he bought the team. If it wasn’t going well, you were out. You didn’t get too long to fix it. His son Hal is all about the business side, and Cashman has been running the show. I find it interesting that Cashman fired Joe Girardi after 10 years and one World Series title, but Boone just keeps going without any titles to show for it. Bottom line: Hal Steinbrenner needs to get like his dad and take control by cleaning house. Sixteen years is far too long for the Yankees to be without a World Series title. John De Angelo
Parental deterrent
West Orange, N.J.: To Voicer Aviva Cantor: I totally agree with your advice concerning deterring kids from subway surfing. I would like to add to your recommendation that there should be a fine of $1,500 charged to the parents/guardians of the child caught or killed surfing the top of a subway train. Also, NYC should not be held liable for the actions of the child. Lonnie Bond
