Letters - Thursday

DISTRICT 11

Attack on Breazell misdirected, predictable

The Oct. 16 Gazette contained an interesting letter from Harlan Nimrod attacking Willie Breazell (“Let’s get rid of Breazell, last of so-called reformers”).

An attack is what is needed, but not on Breazell. Rather, it should be directed to District 11 and the absence of any sense of urgency. When 50 percent of the district’s kids are not proficient in reading, writing and math, his brand of reform and impatience are exactly what we need.

It is self-serving and predictable that Nimrod and his allies would seek political advantage in this election by intentionally mischaracterizing Breazell’s goal as being to “dismantle public education.” His real goal continues to be the dramatic and immediate improvement of student achievement, particularly among at-risk children, putting the interests of kids above all else. Let those who continue to protect the status quo defend themselves to the parents of children helplessly trapped in low-performing schools.

To those who are satisfied with a district-wide gain of only 1 percent in CSAP scores, Breazell is the problem. But to families and citizens who want and expect more, and better, he is a champion.

Steve Schuck

Colorado Springs

Breazell needed on school board

Willie Breazell should be re-elected to the District 11 school board. He apparently is not on the list of the current politikers. I’ve communicated with him and found him to be an independent, intelligent, conscientious, thoughtful, forward-thinking, color-blind and experienced board member.

Jim Edwards

Colorado Springs

SAVING LIVES

Responders must act quickly to open closed airways

I have been following the controversy pertaining to the authorization of first responders to perform RSI, the rapid intubation of the upper airway after injection of a muscle-relaxing drug. The drug paralyzes all muscles, including respiratory muscles. This facilitates the passage of a breathing tube through the vocal cords and into the trachea.

Anoxia, the deprivation of oxygen, can develop with frightening speed, resulting in severe damage to the kidneys, heart and brain. Death can result. Relief of anoxia is critical to survival. The urgency of an airway is magnified when a patient has been paralyzed prior to intubation.

Patients struggling to overcome progressive or acute airway obstruction are characterized by rigidity, apprehension, agitation and even combativeness. Such patients must be paralyzed before intubation is attempted. Patients who have lapsed into unconsciousness are already flaccid and less of a challenge to intubate. They are also within minutes of death. The consequences of delayed or failed intubation in such patients can be catastrophic.

Intubation is not an innocuous procedure. Complications can follow. Injury of the vocal cords is not uncommon. Inadvertent penetration of the upper gut by the beveled end of the anesthesia tube might occur. This injury opens a route for infection to extend into the deep tissues of the neck and into the chest. Unless the injury and infection are managed aggressively with surgery and antibiotics, a fatal outcome is likely.

A first responder rushing a patient with acute airway obstruction to a hospital has only minutes to prevent great harm or death. Unfortunately, there are no clearcut, absolute criteria for RSI. The judgment, experience and skill of the first responder/caregiver must be the deciding factors.

Edmund A. Krekorian, M.D.

Professor emeritus

University of Colorado School of Medicine

Colorado Springs

DISTRICT 20

Taylor, Christensen best choices for board

My children attended and graduated from Academy School District 20 schools. I am encouraging D-20 parents and patrons to give your support to Vicki Taylor and Anne Christensen for D-20 school board in the upcoming election.

Taylor has been on the board for almost four years and wants to continue for another four. She has proven to be a strong leader as a member and as president of the school board. She remains committed to giving of her time and energy to the children of our district.

Christensen has been an active mom in D-20 for 11 years. She has served on many committees and has volunteered at the schools her children have attended. She is committed to continuing to support the high quality of education D-20 has come to be known for.

Both want the community to know that they understand the time commitment involved in being a board member and are ready to make that one of their priorities for the kids in D-20.

Debbie Carter

Black Forest

HEALTH CARE

President wants cooperation to help needy children

President Bush strongly supports reauthorizing the State Children’s Health Insurance Program to ensure access to health care for poor children who don’t qualify for Medicaid. In fact, he has called for a 20 percent increase in SCHIP funding over the next five years.

However, legislation passed by Congress would provide a massive expansion of the program far beyond its original intent. SCHIP should cover America’s poor children first, yet this bill would cover many others — children in higher income families, children who already have private insurance and even adults. It would do all of this by raising taxes on hard-working Americans.

Some in Congress see their SCHIP bill as the means to advance their goal of government-run health care for all. But it is not only bad policy for children’s health, it is bad policy for America’s health care system.

Bush was right to veto this legislation and he is committed to working with Congress to renew SCHIP. This isn’t about money; it’s about the priorities, accountability and focus of the program. It’s time for us to work together on the right policy for America’s poor children.

Joe C. Nuñez

Regional director

U. S. Department of Health & Human Services

Denver

ROOT CAUSES

It’s time to look to parents to address school violence

There has been the typical reaction of shock and outrage over yet another incidence of school violence, this time in an inner-city school in Cleveland. Teachers and children were harmed and many more forever scarred by the actions of a misunderstood and troubled kid. Reports indicate there were warning signs. Shooter Asa Coon had threatened to hurt many of his fellow students. He had a fascination with dark clothing and black nail polish.

Yet, in all published reports, few detail the angry student’s home life. How were his parents involved? Numerous studies show when students act out in violent ways, parents are always involved, in one way or another.

The gunmen themselves and parents who contributed to or tolerated such violent notions are not mentioned. And, as a result, any lessons we might learn from such homes and the children they produce are forever lost as well.

Parents have the right to raise their children in whatever manner they choose. However, when the price is ultimately paid by society, someone in society should hold parents accountable. Many school districts take parents to court when their children don’t come to school. Why not when their children come to school with guns?

If a child struck back at parents instead of innocent school children, perhaps we’d start to recognize the part that parents play in destructive acts by their kids.

Until then, the rest of us are in the line of fire.

Catherine Durkin Robinson

Colorado Springs