U.S. education system

Your editorial position on eliminating the U.S. Department of Education Feb. 9 is well taken, especially when $25,000 per student is spent to produce 8th grade students whose reading and math skills continue to drop and only 29% of 8th graders in California score at a level of proficiency. But how can we taxpayers expect these scores to rise when the K-12 teachers themselves cannot compute or show competency in writing. I recall when I took and passed the California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST), administered to credentialed teachers. Those taking the test had failed to do so two and three times, unable to pass simple 10th grade level math and reading comprehension questions. These are credentialed teachers who themselves have failed our students.

— M. Range, Upland

U.S. takeover of Gaza Strip

Re “Gaza ploy is irresponsible to the nation” (Feb. 7):

An American presidential candidate has the right to campaign on any issue he wishes. Getting elected president is a reflection of the voters’ wishes. Is there a contradiction between massive deployment of U.S. troops vs. no U.S. soldiers would be needed? Perhaps you have not seen pictures of the destruction of 2.2 million Gaza citizens’ property. They are not going back to their homes as a pile of concrete without electricity, gas, water, sewers or other infrastructure is not habitable. It seems your editorial staff is suggesting that the examples of U.A.E., Qatar or Miami Beach would not ultimately be more beneficial than their current pile of rubble. President Trump has an idea, you do not.

— John R. Waters, Lake Forest

California wildfire funding

RE “ Stop holding fire relief funds hostage” (Feb. 6):

Of course President Trump should require California to clean up its act over fire relief to be paid for by the rest of the nation. California spends billions in the failed, impossible effort to clean up the world but makes it impossible for even the fire department to do its part of the job to protect California residents.

Specific actions and goals need agreement to change California’s foibles. Any agreed upon federal fire funding should be reimbursed only as there are results. California government agencies will certainly hold rebuilding residents hostage to new building codes. Any difference?

— Steve Hawes, Sunland