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Unhealthy and overweight Coloradans
I’m a third-generation Colorado resident and located Froma Harrop’s column about how unhealthy and unfit Coloradans are too true.
It at all times amazed me that we have been discovered to be probably the most wholesome and least overweight of the states and but after I walked round I encountered morbidly overweight individuals in every single place.
Made me surprise what the residents of Mississippi and Alabama regarded like — these states appear to commerce locations on probably the most overweight state lists commonly.
As I used to be procuring not too long ago in a grocery store with my spouse, I made the remark to her that I had not seen a single nonobese lady within the retailer. I don’t think about an individual carrying a number of further kilos “overweight.”
I usually stroll about 2 miles day-after-day with my great Jazzy, and the individuals I encounter on the park and between my home and the park appear to have extra regular and wholesome weights. Is smart. Those not on the park are usually gardening or doing exterior upkeep or I wouldn’t see them. Statistics are that gardeners outlive nongardeners, walkers outlive nonwalkers.
The older sections of Colorado Springs are specified by the grid sample, in order that strolling is inspired and auto visitors self corrects to obstructions. Neighborhood designers within the suburbs have residential areas, “collectors” and thoroughfares which make it virtually unimaginable to stroll to a retailer. In case you reside in one in all these “residential” areas it’s essential to get in a automobile to get a gallon of milk due to the segregation of residential and business. Jazzy and I stroll to the Safeway, liquor retailer and Ace {Hardware}. My daughter and son-in-law can’t stroll to any business entity from their designed neighborhood due to zoning and developments with HOAs.
The previous metropolis founders like our Gen. Palmer had it proper with vast boulevards and intersecting rectangular streets. Kudos to them.
Tim Haley
Colorado Springs
Placing college students’ schooling first
In enterprise, when an organization isn’t performing nicely, there may be usually a change in management. A board will fireplace a CEO and put in place somebody they consider can enhance the scenario.
That is precisely what is occurring with the Douglas County Faculty District. A district that when had a stellar tutorial popularity and was a prime performer within the state, has fallen to No. 49. Voters and oldsters weren’t blissful that the standard of their kids’s schooling was lowering, in order that they voted for 4 new faculty board members.
These new members, who make up the bulk, have gotten to work. They let go the superintendent who didn’t appear supportive of their directive from voters to refocus on schooling.
That is what any faculty district ought to do when solely 42% of scholars are proficient in math, and worse, when solely 22% of Black college students and 15% of Hispanic college students are proficient in math.
In fact, large modifications like this will not be simple, however mandatory to make sure college students are receiving the most effective schooling to allow them to achieve success in life. The Colorado Springs District 11, the place solely 5% of Black college students and 9% of Hispanic college students are proficient in math, additionally has a brand new board majority and may think about the identical.
I sincerely hope this new board will even put their scholar’s schooling first and observe Douglas County’s instance!
Tanya S. Regan
Colorado Springs
Getting again to teachers
Youngsters ought to at all times come first with regards to schooling. Sadly, many have forgotten this. The scenario in Douglas County is an ideal instance. Dad and mom have been clearly sad with the path the district was headed, in order that they voted for change. The brand new board is doing what voters need — getting again to teachers.
College students have fallen behind in the course of the pandemic and faculties have misplaced focus of their function: to supply a high quality schooling that units youngsters up for fulfillment in life. It appears faculties, with heavy affect from the union, have develop into too targeted on their very own agendas. Even going as far as to rob college students of a day of schooling with a sick-out that compelled faculties to shut — just because they didn’t get their approach. This isn’t the kind of conduct we must be modeling for our youngsters, particularly when it additional disrupts their schooling. Youngsters have suffered sufficient by the pandemic with what felt like thrown-together on-line schooling and forcing all-day masks sporting as soon as they have been again within the classroom.
Change is tough and doing the suitable factor can imply powerful selections, like letting a superintendent go. But when that’s what it takes to present our youngsters what they want academically, we will get by it. The Douglas County Faculty Board is keen to pressure the change we’d like and tackle these powerful selections to place our youngsters first.
District 11 — it’s your flip.
Steve Stepp
Colorado Springs
Agreeing with the Canadian truckers
As a retired truck driver I’ve to agree with the Canadian truckers. I had COVID in December 2020 and acquired vaccinated on the VA clinic in Colorado Springs about two months later. I used to be provided a booster and refused it. Now we’re informed we’d like extra boosters and we should hold updated. That is nothing however the authorities making an attempt to see how a lot they’ll make us do. The Canadian authorities is doing the identical factor.
I used to be born and raised in Canada and by no means thought it might get so dangerous there. Justin Trudeau is the largest fool that has run that nation. It makes me glad I left there in 1963 to return right here and serve within the U.S. Military and later develop into a U.S. citizen.
Hopefully, this November election will deliver in regards to the final of Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer and an entire lot of different Democrats and this nation will get again to regular.
Eric DesPres
Calhan