Readers Write: (Sept 19): Higher education, student suspensions, Adrian Peterson, MNsure

The Star Tribune appears to have forgotten to print the final paragraph of its Sept. 18 editorial, in which it challenges the proposed undergraduate tuition freeze at both the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. As observed at the end of the editorial, "postsecondary education [is] now as critical to adult self-sufficiency as a high school diploma was 50 years ago." But, as the old saying goes, "What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander." So the logic of the editorial continues, necessarily, to the conclusion of calling for the imposition of tuition payments by the parents of Minnesota's high school students. After all, the Editorial Board has placed the two stages of education on a par. And if it is not calling for tuition for high school, then its reluctance to place the burden on students and their families should also guide its thinking about public higher education.

As higher education becomes essential to most jobs and careers, the state really should fund it as it funds K-12 education. Minnesota owes it to its citizens to reduce the burden of tuition at the U and MnSCU. The state's economic health depends on an educated population, and another round of tuition increases is another reduction of access to adult self-sufficiency for Minnesota's young adults.

The writer is a college professor.

Thanks to Peter Bell for a succinct analysis and suggested remedy to the problem of dysfunctional classroom environment in public schools ("Reduced suspension will mean reduced enrollment," Sept. 18). City leaders dance around the elephant in the room, accusing overwhelmed teachers of racism and insensitivity, while forcing them to accept dysfunctional behavior as a cultural norm. But who is advocating for the well-behaved learners, and for the dedicated instructors who are attempting to provide a learning environment while contending with distraction and disruption by misbehaving children and irresponsible parents?

Bell's common-sense solution of parents admonishing their children — "If you get in trouble in school, I'm going to be on your teacher's side" — would go a long way toward eliminating the need for many of the workshops, policy changes and politically correct nonsense espoused by leaders. It might also provide incentive for good instructors, frustrated by prevailing classroom conditions, not to leave their teaching careers out of exasperation with a broken educational system.

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The warning given by Bell is worth close attention from those who are concerned about the success of all children in learning. Most teachers wish for more expert help from parents, principals, social workers and counselors to help end suspensions. Smaller class sizes would also allow teachers more time and energy to unravel this spiral of dysfunction.

My son attends first grade at a school with a 90 percent poverty rate and a high proportion of students who engage in disruptive classroom behaviors. I don't like it. But rather than attempting to hold the district hostage, as Bell suggests, by threatening to leave for whiter pastures if it refuses to deny education to poor children of color, my husband and I take advantage of our middle-class work schedules and resources to volunteer at the school and provide the one-on-one attention those kids need.

There is a great deal of holier-than-thou going around in the Adrian Peterson case. Vikings sponsors and player endorsers such as Radisson, Nike, Wheaties and others that have dropped their financial support since Peterson was indicted on a charge of child abuse in Texas should have known better about the risks when they paid their money. Football is a violent sport, increasingly so from Pop Warner youth leagues to the NFL. Players are today's gladiators, taught well to inflict as much physical abuse as possible on opponents across the line of scrimmage. Little wonder when they sometimes inflict similar abuse on those close to them off the field. For the sponsors and endorsers suddenly to be shocked when that happens — and for the Vikings to succumb by sending Peterson home — is hypocritical, to say the least.

As for Peterson himself, I stand with columnist Pat Reusse in favor of due process ("In end, most factions got desires met," Sept. 18). No one supports child abuse. But Peterson should continue working; have his day in the Texas courts, and only then, in light of the court's decision, should Viking owners and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell decide his future as a player.

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Let's stop talking about Adrian Peterson for a minute. Where is all the outrage over the Minnesota 4-year-old who died due to abuse ("The boy they couldn't save," Aug. 31)? Multiple reports were made about potential abuse, and nothing happened to protect that little boy. Let's direct our outrage at the Minnesota politicians who wrote laws that allowed the local 4-year-old to die and let the state of Texas handle the Adrian Peterson issue.

Zygi Wilf stated: "We embrace our role in the community and the responsibilities that go with it." If that is true, spend the $1 million for bird-safety glass in the new stadium. Walk the talk.

Who among us has not been lured by a low rate for auto or home insurance, only to have rates increase sharply in subsequent years? The only way to keep getting the lowest rates is to switch insurance companies frequently, chasing after the lower initial rates meant to attract new customers.

So it is no surprise to learn that PreferredOne took advantage of the initial MNsure health insurance sign-up to offer unsustainably low rates to capture market share and that its rates are expected to rise significantly next year for those who want to keep those policies.

The problem is not caused by the rollout of MNsure or the Affordable Care Act. Until we join the rest of the developed world and create a universal national health care system, we will remain at the mercy of insurance companies doing what they have been created to do: maximize profits in any way they can.