I am writing in response to the Jan. 11 article “Maine teacher prep programs call foul after getting an F for how they teach reading.” As a literacy specialist and concerned citizen, I find the University of Maine’s defensive response to the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) report disturbing. Maine’s abysmal National Assessment of […]
Letters
Letters to the editor of the Sun Journal.
Maine’s school food waste issue should have been solved by now | Letter
Once again, we see an initiative to reduce food waste in public schools (“Taking a bite out of food waste,” Maine Sunday Telegram, Jan. 18). In my files, I have a response referencing an editorial from 2016 — 10 years ago. (“Food we throw away could help solve hunger,” Jan. 4, 2016). I also have a letter to […]
Stand up for truth and against oppression | Letter
Tension and fear are the objective. Those who fear accept oppression. I am 90 years old. I remember the original. It was called Gestapo (Geheime Staatspolizei), SS (Schutzstaffel) — depending on the context — Adolf Hitler’s tools of oppression. ICE is but a cheap copy, as is the Donald himself. Hitler’s stated targets were the Jews; […]
UMaine architecture program succeeding at Handley Hall | Letter
I am writing to strongly advocate for keeping the NAAB-accredited architecture program at the University of Maine at Augusta intact in its current location at Handley Hall. I have had the pleasure of supporting this program as a design critic for early studio courses as well as thesis presentations. Through this experience, I have consistently […]
Trump accomplishments not all they’re cracked up to be | Letter
I feel compelled to take issue with some of the claims that Mr. Grant attributed to the Trump administration in his letter of Jan. 18 (“We should be willing to give the Trump administration its due“). Unfortunately, the claim that there is no longer a federal tax on Social Security is not true. There is […]
With friends like these … | Letter
On Jan. 18, the deputy speaker in the Danish Parliament, Lars-Christian Brask, said: “(The U.S. president) makes threats against a friend. A friend he has had relationships with for 225 years. A friend that has done everything possible, fought two wars in Afghanistan and Iraq with the U.S., lost more soldiers per population than any […]
We need to refresh our rhetoric when it comes to Trump | Letter
I am getting tired of two phrases being used by and about the Trump administration. The first phrase is “weaponizing the Department of Justice.” Remember when Trump accused the Biden administration of “weaponizing the DOJ” against him, especially concerning the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol? I would think that any rational human being would try […]
Relocation of UMA architecture program would be a careless move | Letter
I am a registered architect in Maine and a former adjunct professor in UMA’s architecture program in Augusta. I have been involved in design critiques of student work for almost 20 years dating back to when the emerging architecture program was on the main campus. I began teaching the third-year design studio in Handley Hall, […]
Graham Platner needs to exit Senate race | Letter
I agree with Bernard Mohr’s Jan. 19 letter concerning Graham Platner (“Graham Platner may want to consider changing course“). He needs to first demonstrate his value to Mainers by having a history in state, not going right to the top. If he doesn’t concede and let Gov. Janet Mills, a known fighter with values, get […]
Lying for petition signatures in Maine? It’s telling. | Letter
It’s telling when a Republican lawmaker, the Christian Civic League of Maine and a Christian Nationalist church reportedly have to resort to lying to get Mainers to sign their petition to overturn the already-approved will of the voters. Travis Carey, senior pastor at Portland-area Calvary Chapel, is a co-sponsor of the proposed legislation to end recreational marijuana sales (“An Act […]