Early reading vital

It is heartwarming to know that so many high schools in Miami-Dade received high grades, as noted in the Dec. 22 story No D’s, F’s on South Florida’s report card. However, this would be even more meaningful if substantial changes weren’t made in the calculations that produced this improvement.

For example, it is significant that, “the state no longer factors in whether a majority of low-performing students showed learning gains.” As a retired learning-disabilities teacher I am particularly concerned about these children, and I have felt for a long time that the best way to enable at-risk readers to read on grade level by third grade (an important step toward success in school), is to do whatever is necessary to empower them to read on grade level by the end of first grade. This would result in a much greater degree of progress and is a course worth pursuing.

Jeffrey B. Reiter, Miami

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‘First 48’ exploits victims of crime

Thank you for your recent coverage of the city of Miami Police Chief Manuel Orosa’s decision not to renew a contract with the reality show The First 48. For years the show’s film crew has roamed the streets of Miami’s urban communities searching for victims of homicide to feature on their show. 1369259411
Spiritual or religious?

Martin Slater’s May 17 letter, Changing beliefs, responding to Myriam Marquez’s May 12 column makes the common mistake of equating religion and spirituality. While religions encourage the development of our spiritual sense, religious dogmas are unnecessary to cultivate one’s own sense of spirituality. Many nonreligious individuals are highly spiritual, keenly in tune with their inner-self and the concept of a creative universal force. 1369259411
DCF is disgraceful

Re the May 21 article DCF deemed boy safe before he was left in vehicle: It’s unbelievable that the Department of Children & Families would do absolutely nothing about a woman who reportedly was drunk and driving, hitting walls and passing out while her young son was in the car untethered. 1369259411

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