LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

From the issue of Aug. 9, 2007.

Political implications to reading assignment
To the editor:
   I was walking through Borders the other day and noticed a "required reading" section for local area high schools. Curious, I looked up the summer reading project for my soon-to-be 10th-grader and found "An Inconvenient Truth." It was the only item on the list for Hillsborough High School’s 10th grade (aside from the advanced placement reading requirements).
   Disappointed, I then looked up the summer reading assignment for Montgomery High School. Two books were required, "Catcher in the Rye," and another book (reader’s choice) from a list of 23 other fiction/nonfiction selections.
   Interestingly enough, "An Inconvenient Truth" was not present. But to be clear, Montgomery’s summer reading orientation appears more literacy focused while Hillsborough is science oriented.
   Exploring Hillsborough’s 10th-grade summer reading project in a more detail, I found that the assignment instructs students to support or refute exhibits from the book, and provides a template for students to use.
   How open minded. The students have already endured the movie. It seems very unfair to me that our children must to be saddled with this assignment, given the controversy and political polarization surrounding global warming (natural cycle of warm and cold vs. manmade event, yadda, yadda, yadda).
   Gosh, when I was in high school, the scientific issue de jour was global cooling. It seems the folks who were lobbying for global cooling back then had a change of heart or something. Guess they got tired trying to raise awareness or protest in their fur coats.
   There are plenty of other, less controversial issues that could be used to help train the scientific minds of Hillsborough students. How about a project regarding alternate energy or energy independence?
   They also have political implications, but it is at least possible to have an intelligent conversation on the topic, rather than the acrimony that other books generate.
   And from another standpoint, why are our children reading a book about allegedly scientific issues that is written by a politician? In that vein, why don’t we force the students to study a book written by a priest, rabbi, imam or shaman that describes how the universe was formed (who needs Steven Hawking anyway?).
   But don’t worry, the students can write a pro or con essay, so the assignment will be kept open minded.
   Hey, I know what we can do, let’s get the folks responsible for the Hillsborough 10th-grade science curriculum nice bucket helmets, jackboots and gray uniforms. Then they can practice goose stepping all the way to Hollywood and pursue the political cause of their choice.
   It is a free country after all. In the end, our students will be much better off.
   But more importantly, let’s keep politics out of school. The quality of education in Hillsborough will never improve if our children are forced to study political rubbish/junk science like "An Inconvenient Truth."
   Obviously, Montgomery’s educational leadership is more concerned about quality school curriculum than our leaders here in Hillsborough.
Daniel Spencer

Boozer Lane

Group hopes for more ‘clean campaigns’
To the editor:
   With so much corruption associated with New Jersey elected officials, our state needs to change business as usual by removing money from politics and change our election process.
   This November, when voters in the 14th, 24th and 37th legislative districts select their representatives for the state Senate and General Assembly, they could have the opportunity to vote for candidates that did not receive substantial campaign contributions from unions, corporations, political parties or individual donors.
   These candidates are participating in the second Clean Elections Pilot Project. Under this voluntary program, qualified candidates who collect 400 to 800 $10 contributions from voters in their district and agree to forgo private campaign cash, receive public funding grants to run for office.
   The Clean Elections program is backed by a diverse group of concerned organizations, including the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, Rutgers University’s Eagleton Institute of Politics, Citizen Action, and the League of Women Voters, who will help to promote the program to voters in the pilot districts.
   Although we will unfortunately continue to hear the negative stories associated with Jersey politics, we should take notice of the pilot program in the 14th, 24th, and 37th legislative districts.
   Once this election cycle is over, our wish is for clean elections to come to a legislative district near you.
Peter Cocoziello

Chairman

NJ Chamber of Commerce

Government Reform Initiative