Regarding “Injustice at Justice/Hirings wrongly put politics over ability” (Editorial, June 26):

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I read with interest your editorial regarding partisanship appointments in the U.S. Justice Department. Frankly, I'm pleased to see more conservative appointees in the Honors and Summer Law Intern Programs for young lawyers as a way to balance our overall balance in government. When we look at our liberal Congress, Senate, most of our TV and newspaper media and judicial appointees, we don't need any more liberal-thinking lawyers elevating to these groups in coming years. Apparently no one complained of this partisanship problem during the Clinton administration and look what has progressed its way into our Congress and government.

DONALD MADISON
San Diego

Regarding Chris Juarez's (“Finding cartoon on ANWR insulting,” Letters, June 25) complaint about the “A Little Perspective” editorial cartoon's (June 23) representation of ANWR as a flea on Alaska's back: May I state that it is, in fact, even less than that. I have been to ANWR; the area that would be drilled is minuscule in relation to the entire Wildlife Refuge (the cartoon should have depicted the drilling site merely as a flea on back of the refuge) and is black with the oil that is, in fact, oozing out of the ground. There is no vegetation for more than 500 miles. The musk oxen and gazillion caribou are not bothered by it in the least, and Bambi is not frolicking up there!

MARGE SCHMITT
Escondido

Bringing water towhere it's needed

In the Union-Tribune this month, we read about floods in the Mississippi River area and in the next column we read about the severe water shortage in the West and Southwest. These news items reveal the truth about water: There is no water shortage, it's simply in places where it's not wanted or needed, and missing from the areas where it is needed.

If we can build thousands of miles of pipeline to transport oil that has little to do with life sustenance then why can we not build pipelines to pump the unwanted surplus water from the Mississippi River area during the flood season to fill our reservoirs?

GEORGE NICHOLS
El Cajon

Many sea-going vessels to our West Coast make drinkable water from the salt water that they float on. Wouldn't it be cheaper to build evaporators and pay operators than build pipelines and pay for their maintenance? Problem solved and more people put into useful, permanent jobs.

JAMES I. SMITH
San Diego

Returning Saldañato the Hot Seat

Regarding Hot Seat interview with Assemblywoman Lori Saldaña (Dialog, June 22):

It seems that the Democrat-controlled Assembly would be responsible for the tax loopholes she refers to since, as she says, they can be put in place by simple majority vote. Of course, it is then the minority Republicans who are responsible for keeping them there by preventing supermajority votes to remove them.

As for the talk-show hate speech on illegal immigration, I listen to talk radio frequently, and while most of the hosts are opposed to illegal immigration I have never heard a single comment that could be characterized as hateful. The “thoughtful deliberation” she thinks is stifled by this talk is the liberal substitute for tackling the really tough question: Should the United States enforce its border laws?

CHARLES RILEY
San Diego

Cartoon missed anyconnection to reality

Editorial “cartoonist” Chris Britt needs to hear from those who find his effort (“Another View,” June 18) pointless, inaccurate and gratuitously offensive. His portrayal of a “GITMO Goon” dragging two unconscious detainees face down on the pavement implies that, at the detention facility at GuantÁnamo Bay, the guard staff administers beatings and physical violence against detainees.

His depiction of the “goon” as a cave man implies that the guard is too dim-witted to understand his duties or the U.S. Constitution. The sign posted above the Constitution implies that the leadership holds the Constitution in contempt. None of these has any basis in fact. Excellence in political cartooning is found in calling some attention to the truth or a political position by illustrating its absurdity.

First, there is nothing absurd about the proposition that the constitutional right of habeas corpus does not apply to enemy combatants (unlawful or not). Reasonable minds may differ. Perhaps Britt is unaware that four of nine Supreme Court Justices agreed with this proposition and dissented (disagreed with the majority).

The truth is that all military personnel are sworn to uphold and defend the Constitution. They do their duties professionally and with respect for human life and human rights. If Britt has a disagreement it is with those he believes made a decision that did not pass Supreme Court scrutiny. Let him hold those up to his critique without defaming the military services.

EDWARD R. TORRENCE
El Cajon

State schools chiefresponds to editorial

Regarding “Missing links/Students ill-equipped for the workplace” (Editorial, June 20):

As state superintendent of public instruction, I wish to state that the editorial was irresponsible in its assertion that the state Department of Education “proposes dropping algebra in eighth grade.”

Not only do I support algebra for eighth-graders, my department recently proposed to the State Board of Education a more rigorous test, based on Algebra 1 standards, to replace the current below grade-level general mathematics test. This test would be given to the nearly 50 percent of eighth-graders who currently are not enrolled in algebra. This test would not replace or eliminate the end of course exam for those eight-grade students who are in Algebra 1. My goal is to push for more rigor in eighth-grade math, not to lower the bar.

Algebra is a requirement for graduation in California that I strongly support. As you point out, algebra develops the critical thinking skills necessary for both college and career. I also support instruction in algebra for eighth-graders, because mastery of this subject before high school will allow a student maximum opportunity to take higher-level math courses throughout high school. State standards call for local discretion, however, in the sequencing of math courses from eighth grade through high school.

JACK O'CONNELL
Sacramento

Judging single-sex vs. a coed education

Regarding “Is single better?” (Dialog, June 22):

As a student who has attended both a single sex and a coed school, I have to agree with St. Augustine High School President Edwin J. Hearn Jr. (“A single-gender environment fosters school pride, friendships and high achievement.”) Besides the numerical increase in my GPA, I have gained so much more from my experience at an all-boys school. The sense of camaraderie and friendship is unlike any other relationship I have ever been a part of.

In both of the last two years, nearly 100 percent of the graduating class from my school went on to continue their education. Most went on to four-year colleges and universities, including some of the most elite and prestigious in the nation. San Diego County Superintendent of Schools Randy Ward (“Decades of data validate a simple fact: coed classrooms work”) seems to be OK with the coed setup because it gets the job done, but he provides no statistics to back up his claim; in contrast, Hearn is more preoccupied with the excellence of his students rather than just getting the job done. “Is Single Better?” In three words: single is better.

PATRICK KIERNAN
Coronado

I could not contain myself when I read Randy Ward's response to this issue. His comments very clearly spell out why our educational system in America continues to produce worse and worse results. To believe that school is intended as a place for boys and girls to “express themselves” rather than learn the fundamental subjects required to go on to greater education and a successful, productive life is absurd.

To think that schools should be a place to teach girls that they are as good as the boys by how well they, for example, do in math (a stereotypically boy-dominated subject, according to Ward) or that school is a place to teach boys and girls to respect each other's differences, is the liberal mentality that has infected our school boards, administrators and teachers. It is no surprise that educators are consistently the most liberal group of people I have ever encountered given the idiocy they have been subjected to from the leftist lawyers down to the clueless administrators and elected officials.

School is meant to teach our children fundamental subjects such as math, science and history. As soon as that changed decades ago into a place to learn politically correct behavior and how we can “all get along,” the results are and have been a disaster. As for respecting women and being a gentleman, I learned that from watching my dad who has been married to my mom for 52 years.

BRIAN BRITT
San Diego

When we consider the atrocious graduation rates and falling test scores, it is fairly obvious that the education practices in America are not effective. Randy Ward argues that single-sex education is not the predominant method of instruction because coed education has been proven to be more effective. Then why is it that single-sex schools see much more success with their students?

Ward also claims that a single-sex education could cause discomfort with the opposite sex and does not allow for enough social interaction. I feel saddened by the realization that I have to remind anyone, even a school superintendent, that the classroom is a place for learning, not for socializing.

But in response many coed schools have effectively employed gender separation only in the classroom and provide coed extra-curricular activities. As a graduate of St. Augustine High School('06), it is my experience that my fellow students had more appreciation for women, not less. Also, I have not witnessed any single-sex students with debilitating phobias of working with the opposite sex.

Ward does cite that having very strong teachers is important, and I must agree wholeheartedly. However, student self-motivation cannot be ignored, and a single-sex setting is the best way to give students the comfort to improve themselves.

JOSEPH FRANCIS WYER
Lakeside