Seis educadores — cuatro de los cuales son padres — están preocupados por la seguridad y bienestar general de los niños en nuestras escuelas. El tiroteo en Uvalde, Texas, en mayo, y el apuñalamiento fatal en la escuela secundaria de Aptos hace un año han aumentado los temores en todo el país y el condado. Pero, este grupo propone que avancemos más allá del miedo a través de discusiones francas y profundas sobre cómo son la seguridad y bienestar, y cómo lograrlos. Les gustaría que la comunidad considerara tres temas: salud mental, justicia restaurativa, y la práctica contenciosa de poner policías armados en la escuela.
Opinion from Community Voices
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
I spent years watching my mother suffer from Alzheimer’s; we need to find a cure
Claudia Sternbach knows the ravages of Alzheimer’s disease. She spent years watching helplessly, she writes, as her mother declined and forgot key moments and people. For decades, Sternbach has helped raise awareness of the disease through the Alzheimer Association’s annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s. This year’s Santa Cruz County event is Saturday.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Take a peek at Veterans Village: It’s an answer to homelessness, but needs more money
Veterans Village in Ben Lomond offers cabins, scenic views and services to six homeless veterans and could be a model for how to handle homelessness in our community and nation. The only problem? Money. It has millions, but needs more. In this Lookout video, Keith Collins, a veteran homeless advocate and the director of operations and programming at Veterans Village, and two veterans who live there explain why Veterans Village matters, needs to grow and deserves support.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
We’re parents and educators, and we want to talk about school safety in Santa Cruz County
Six educators — four of whom are parents — are concerned about the safety and overall well-being of kids in our schools. The shooting in Uvalde, Texas, in May and the fatal stabbing at Aptos High School just over one year ago have heightened fears across the country and county. But, they write, the authors want us to move beyond fear by initiating frank and in-depth discussions about what safety and well-being look like and how to achieve them. They’d like the community to consider three topics: mental health, restorative justice and the contentious practice of putting armed police officers in schools.
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Letter to the editor: Get rid of the ‘old guard’ in Santa Cruz County politics; boost up those with passion and ideas
Have something to say? Lookout welcomes letters to the editor, within our policies, from readers. Guidelines here. To the editor: Lack of political experience doesn’t equal a “weak” candidate. We need to shift away from the dysfunctional mindset that “old-guard” type candidates make “strong” candidates. Nothing could be further from the truth, which is why […]
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Letter to the editor: I’m glad my 8-year-old grandson has an Apple watch
Ten-year-old Grace Scherer’s biggest gripe is that her parents think she is too young for a phone. She wrote Lookout’s…
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Letter to the editor: Be a responsible parent — give your kid a smartphone and teach them to use it well
Have something to say? Lookout welcomes letters to the editor, within our policies, from readers. Guidelines here. To the editor: First of all, I love Grace’s letter. She is of the viewpoint of a typical 10-year-old; she’s smart and makes a very good argument. Her points are so valid. I have an 18-year-old and got […]
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
Letter to the editor: Sorry, Grace — we should ban smartphones for kids under 16
Have something to say? Lookout welcomes letters to the editor, within our policies, from readers. Guidelines here. To the editor: Having a flip phone is a great idea for a 10-year old. But smartphones with access to the internet are toxic and addictive. I teach this topic at UC Santa Cruz and have read reams […]
Posted inOpinion from Community Voices
I’m 10 and I think I should have a phone. Here’s why.
Ten-year-old Grace Scherer’s biggest gripe is that her parents think she is too young for a phone. She wrote Lookout’s Community Voices editor, Jody K. Biehl, a letter explaining why she should have one. What do you think? At what age should Santa Cruz County kids get phones?
