Motivate students

Robert Samuelson’s Tuesday column, “Why school reform fails,” is right. Students lack motivation.

Our education system is bulimic. Students cram for a test, then regardless of the outcome purge their brains to cram for the next. The cycle repeats with little or no carry-over. Students are taught to regurgitate information, yet rarely to think resourcefully, analytically or to be able to synthesize information and reach conclusions.

Weak student athletes have coaches persuading teachers to help them, even to the point in some cases of modifying grades so they can remain eligible. Yet, peers see these athletes as heroes. Strong students are often ostracized for making good grades, being called “nerds” or “over-achievers.”

I am a Baylor professor of graphic design, and I have tried to think of a way to enlist positive peer pressure in the classroom. This is not an easy task, given the plethora of Ferris Bueller-type teen movies that model scorning authority, shirking responsibility and glorifying drinking, drugs and sex. Sadly, I haven’t an answer.

Cannot someone (are you listening, Bill Gates?) fund a think tank or offer a major prize to anyone who can come up with a viable means to make being a good student something to be looked up to by peers?

A colleague called video games “hard fun,” meaning that the player works hard to achieve a certain level, the reward for which is to move to the next level where they must work even harder. Players brag about the levels they have attained. Can’t we figure a way to make that work in the schools? “Guitar Hero”? What about “Classroom Hero”?

Terry M. Roller

Hewitt

Lorena tax election

The Waco Trib did the community that comprises Lorena Independent School District a tremendous service recently by devoting space to a tax ratification election proposal that many felt was critical to the success of the district.

By any measure, the TRE election on Sept. 2 was a landslide victory for the district. While a number of factors contributed to the outcome of the election, the role the Trib played was critical.

First the Trib gathered the necessary information to write a fact-based story about the TRE. That was followed by a Sept. 7 editorial and column in favor of the measure. Both sides had equal opportunity to write letters to attempt to influence public opinion.

I’m grateful that the Trib devoted the time and resources necessary to present the issue to the public. Without its efforts the Lorena ISD community would likely have been largely in the dark. I’m confident the Trib helped voters to be more educated about the issue when they entered the polls.

Paul Romer

Lorena

Lest not ye judge

In response to Peggy Hill’s letter Saturday about our president’s religion, I continue to be amazed at the opinions on this subject. Who is she to judge our president and determine that he is not a Christian?

I’m so tired of these pious people who accept God on Sunday, then deny Him the rest of the week. Only God can judge, only the Holy Spirit can convict, and we are to love one another.

Kathy Schroeder

Fredericksburg