Stop animal cruelty in Massachusetts
Animals in factory farms often spend their entire lives cruelly confined in spaces so small that they cannot extend their limbs or stand up. This is not only inhumane but it is also unsanitary and unhealthy for people who consume the meat and eggs. Massachusetts voters have an opportunity to get a measure on the 2016 ballot that would end these confinement practices. I have been collecting signatures for this measure and have been encouraged by the number of residents who agree that these practices have no place in this state. If you see me or one of my fellow volunteers, I ask that you take a few seconds out of your day to sign your name to get this important measure led by Citizens for Farm Animal Protection on next year’s ballot.
Not so special education
Kristin Palpini does a good job in laying out the pig-headed approach the teacher’s unions have taken toward charter schools (“Charter Schools: A Better Education for Some,” Oct. 15-21, 2015). It does not surprise me that charter schools have tried to avoid the incredibly expensive, bureaucratic special education system that results in assigning one of every six students a handicap (an insane proposition on its face) and very little academic success. The SPED message is, “You are handicapped and you need us to keep you from feeling badly about your lack of academic success.” The more successful approach of the charters is to use motivation and timely instruction to overcome difficulties. These are two very different points of view. SPED is a moribund system and the laws must be changed.
Why investigate?
Editors note: This comment was posted online under “Charter Schools: A Better Education for Some.”
Students are fleeing — even suing the state — to get out of failing public schools and your solution is to … wait for it … investigate the charter schools.
Also: How can you cite a study from the Alliance to Reclaim our Schools with a straight face?
Trendy co-sleeping; sexless parents
Editor’s note: This comment was posted online under “The V-Spot: New Mom Needs to Get Some.”
A good healthy marriage is the foundation to a happy family. Why does the mom need to co-sleep with the baby? What does the husband (partner?) think about co-sleeping?
You can’t have your cake and eat it too. And ask yourself why co-sleeping is a must have? Is it really more important for you or the baby? Babies are adaptable and don’t mind sleeping in their own beds. It’s actually safer, and the baby and you and your partner will all get a lot more sleep.
If the co-sleeping is causing a problem between the husband and wife because it guarantees a loss of intimacy, the question needs to be asked: Should you co-sleep just because it’s trendy and the other AP parents are doing it, even at the cost of your marriage? On an anecdotal level, I don’t know any AP parenting families that give equal parenting joys and responsibilities to both father and mother and I don’t know any AP parenting families that don’t have marital problems caused by the fact that co-sleeping usually edges the father out of the family dynamics.
A healthy marriage needs a healthy sex life. The author is trying her best to be diplomatic and is honest that she isn’t an authority on how co-sleeping affects sex lives, but I can say from my experience that my wife and I are quite happy that our son has slept through the night since he was 4 months old in his own bed, and eventually his own room!
