The Buffalo News : Opinion

Early last January without much fanfare, Miep Gies, the woman who helped Anne Frank and her family survive in the annex in Amsterdam, died at age 100. Constantly risking her own life, Gies courageously brought the Franks food, provisions and birthday gifts, and even stayed a night with them so she could better understand their suffering.

The cost of incarceration in New York State has raised legitimate concerns. While I welcome honest criticism of my management of the Department of Correctional Services, the leaders of the correction officers’ union are sidestepping the most significant issue and spreading misinformation as they fight the right-sizing of the state prison system.

As a teacher at Buffalo United Charter School, I knew beginning my job that I was choosing to work in what was billed as a unique and innovative environment.

The University at Buffalo Alumni Association, representing 200,000 living alumni all over the world, is very concerned about the future of UB and in complete support of the Public Higher Education Empowerment and Innovation Act. SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher’s Another Voice column of hits the mark perfectly.

Nancy Zimpher, in her March 13 Another Voice on the legislation to free up the State University of New York from the red tape currently imposed by the state, is exactly correct. The University at Buffalo and SUNY as a whole must be freed of the red tape in order to better serve the people of New York.

Last week, the U. S. Senate unanimously passed the PACT Act. Who says bipartisanship prevents members of Congress from getting anything done? The key is finding issues they can all agree upon. Obviously carrying on a great American tradition like sticking it to Native Americans is one of those issues. A government that can’t tackle basic needs like health care has no problem marching in lock step when it comes to passing anti-Indian legislation. The Senate bill has been reconciled with the House bill, and it is now just a presidential signature away from being law.

While sitting in a doctor’s office, I overheard two adults of apparent reasonable means discussing Buffalo Public School children. One said, “I teach these kids and I don’t get how their parents send them to school dressed inappropriately, hungry and without their homework.” The other listener said, “Some parents just don’t care.”

I know we have cell phones, e-mail, twitter, etc., but do we still communicate? Losing that personal contact is the rule of the day. I just returned from a visit to my local barber shop. As usual, it was a most enjoyable experience.

If anyone doubts that preschool children can absorb the complexities of the Olympic Games, they should come spend some time in my classroom.