Letters to the Editor (published Jan. 26)

Nevada's system of education is an asset of enormous potential benefit to the state.

Good education trumps low taxes as a lure to industry, so when you reform education, you get a two-fer: a better-educated citizenry and a more productive economy. What's not to like?

But if the new governor and the new Legislature will just be tinkering with our current underperforming system, it will continue to underperform and we will continue our tradition of mediocrity. If Nevada could truly offer a superior education - rank among the 10 best states, let's say - industry would flock here and we would flourish.

Yes, that would be hard politically, financially and other ways, too. But there's no easy way out of our decline. It's going to be hard any way you look at it - and for the other states, too - and the upside is huge.

In the 20th century, Nevada gave our nation legal gambling, convenient divorces and licensed brothels. In the 21st century let's lead the way in education.

David Toll

Gold Hill

On the night of Jan. 21, kids worked all night to honor their recently deceased friend CJ Jackson by adding a J to C Hill. From what I heard, it looked perfect, but before the makers could even see the memorial, it was already taken down. It was gone before 8:30 a.m. Why?

The goal was to honor him for at least a day, but you wouldn't even give us that. I hope you all are ashamed of yourselves.

It is wrong that we live in a country where a memorial that took so much time, so much effort, so much planning and contribution, can be taken down before the artists even get a chance to see their completed work.

If people knew that it was in honor of a great person who recently lost his life, maybe the outcome would have been different, but I highly doubt it. It was not an act of vandalism or a senior prank, it was meant to be like a gravestone for a person who had such an impact on this city that I once admired.

My admiration and confidence for Carson City has diminished. I'm now forced to believe that I live in a city where good deeds are met with overreaction and misunderstanding. The creators will not apologize for what was done. In fact, we are looking for an apology from whoever took it down. Now that you know the facts, I hope you feel differently about CJ Hill.

John Smith

Carson City