Letters to the Editor June 11

Felon just wants his rights back

Regarding Roger Clegg's letter about felons' rights, if you have been a felon - OK, maybe you haven't because you are perfect - that's the way you are judged forever.

I have been carrying a felony for a possession of marijuana for 24 years. I can get the education, but I can't get a decent job, because, for a marijuana charge that nowadays is a misdemeanor, all they can see is the past that I did marijuana. At the time, they gave felonies for possession.

I am not a major criminal, but we are treated like major criminals. You act in your letter like I can't get my rights until I go in front of a board. I have checked out lawyers, and to get something off my past for 24 years will cost me $4,000.

There are people out there in my position who can't get a dishwashing job, because they carry this on them. Now is that fair? All we want is our rights back. We have paid enough.

Russell White

Carson City

Tie teacher pay to student learning

From when I was a young teacher in the late '90s to when I worked in the Nevada Department of Education more recently, I saw that we public school educators were not rewarded according to the quality of our work. This problem has a profound negative influence on our professionalism.

While I learned to manage my classroom, I learned the importance of having high and clear expectations and holding my students to them. Ironically, I was not awarded such respect as a teacher, since years of service mattered more than the success of my students. Without meaningful professional expectations and corresponding rewards, we doom ourselves to an undervalued profession, and we cheapen our commitment to kids.

I am a former union member and an active Democrat, and I would like to hear teacher union leadership commit to, and actively, support compensation tied to student learning. In professional roles, we all are motivated when we know that our leaders have a stake in our performance, that excellence will be rewarded, and ineffectiveness discouraged. As a parent and community member, I know that the interests of our children are always tied to their teachers' quality and success.

We must move beyond the idea that employment should ever be unconditional. It is in all educators' professional interest to work toward expectations tied directly to students' learning. Let's elevate the profession by committing to performance-based compensation for all educators.

Anne Davidson

Carson City

Dayton graduating class deserves praise

As president of Carson City Republican Women and a resident of Dayton, I had the honor and pleasure to present a $1,000 scholarship to Logan Garling, a graduating senior at Dayton High School, at their Senior Awards Ceremony held June 2.

I was so impressed from the moment I was handed a program until the evening ended an hour and one-half later. The graduating class of 175 students had 32 students who were awarded scholarships - several students being awarded more than one. Of these 32 students, there were scholarships awarded from the Mary Orcutt Memorial Foundation, UNR, Northwood University, Harvard University, King's College, UOP, Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps, Cornell University, and Boise State, just to name a few.

Fifty-five seniors qualified for the Millennium Scholarships totaling $550,000. The Athletic and Academic Awards were numerous, along with awards given for the most improved and outstanding senior, American citizenship, honor students, salutatorian and valedictorian.

Dayton is a small community, and these students should be properly recognized within the community for their hard work, athletic skills and perseverance to strive for excellence, not allowing obstacles to stand in their way. This is certainly a reflection upon the staff and administration at Dayton High School, and they should be very proud of their students and what they have accomplished this year.

I am proud to say I live in Dayton.

Sandra Markoe

Dayton

Cats don't belong in the workplace

I am writing regarding the article, "Cats in the Workplace" by Dawn Armstrong of Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Tahoe.

It's an engaging article, but encourages having cats in workplaces. That is a problem for about 30 percent of the American public as they are allergic to the potent allergens that cats exude. It is not their fault, and I'm sure I'd like cats if I could even go into a place where they have been, but they can cause extraordinary and almost immediate breathing or other physical problems for those who are sensitive.

Cat allergen protein is very light and does not settle out easily; when it does, it settles everywhere. Thorough cleaning is impossible. Further, cat proteins retain their virulence for more than 20 years, according to studies.

You are probably aware of the Comma Coffee fuss that went on forever regarding having a cat in an eating establishment and health regulations that prohibited it. It was a community trigger point.

Have cats in your home if desired, but not in work or public places necessarily visited by others.

Merlyn Paine

Carson City