More time needed at ethnic studies meeting

On a recent evening, I attended a parent-feedback session for the Jewish American experience instructional lessons recently added to the ninth-grade ethnic studies course for Tamalpais Union High School District students.

Some 20 parent attendees who reviewed the curriculum since receiving it on Jan. 9 arrived prepared to share feedback and ask questions. However, we were given far too little time to speak.

While TUHSD administrators, teachers and staff present were receptive to hearing and capturing our input for consideration, the paltry amount of time and limited format for sharing feedback felt, at best, like an oversight. At worst, it could have been interpreted as a means to impede discussion.

There is much to appreciate in the course, including the attention to history and Jewish Americans’ myriad of contributions. The unit also addresses, as part of the Jewish American experience, antisemitism — but only up to around 2019.

I hope that the clearly dedicated and experienced teachers who are continuing to develop this course will bring the course content into the present day and acknowledge that history repeats itself. Antisemitism, which occurs along a historical continuum, is at a much higher level since Israel began its response to the terrorist attacks by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023. Many high school and college kids are dealing with responses to the Israel-Hamas war firsthand.

The meeting was appreciated and welcomed. Yet, as one parent aptly noted, the session was scheduled on International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Considering that, along with the issue related to the meeting’s format, left me feeling that the district may be “talking the talk,” but not “walking the walk.”

— Kris Malone Grossman, Mill Valley

Budget cuts hamstringing Marin’s fine educators

In paying attention to stories about school district budgets, too often I read about cuts in the millions of dollars. I rarely, if ever, read about a district’s financial stability or plans to increase money for educational opportunities. I find it baffling.

We just keep chopping away at our schools’ financial budgets and never replenishing the financial stability we once took for granted. Are we becoming another region where education has no financial future? If so, what exactly are the long-term impacts on our children and their future?

I know that some teachers feel obligated to pay for supplies out of their own pockets. This happens despite few raises and seemingly constant staff reductions. This can’t result in a strong learning setting. I worry that we are graduating children who don’t know where the capitol of the U.S. is or cannot name a single country in Europe.

Our California public school system used to be one of the best in the world. Now, we’re coming to a point where everyone should be very concerned about the future of our children’s education. This is on us and not the schools — because they are struggling to do everything they can with what little they have.

— Sandra Macleod White, San Rafael

New bike path built by SMART is a jewel

On Jan. 25, I attended (along with many others) a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new bike and pedestrian path from McInnis Parkway to Smith Ranch Road. The path, built as part of the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District’s commitment to paths, offers a safe and direct mile-long, flat route for kids and adults. It’s already getting a lot of use (“SMART completes key San Rafael path segment,” Nov. 23).

I found the celebration to be a well-thought-out event — right down to the excellent sound system. I got to meet San Rafael Mayor Kate Colin. As a biker who serves as a board member for SMART, Colin spoke during the ceremony. I found it to be a positive community event.

— Alan Rossi, San Anselmo

Birds learned to be symbiotic to dairy cows

Have you ever been to a milking farm and heard the songs of the hundred, if not hundreds, of songbirds? Have you ever watched as they fly in dense flocks, almost blocking out the sun? It’s beautiful.

These birds, as well as other mammals and reptiles, have integrated with the cows feeding on their hay seeds or riding on the back of the cows and eating the small bugs.

Thanks to the recent buyout of ranchers in West Marin, that scene will no longer happen in Point Reyes National Seashore. The saddest thing you’ll see now is giant cattle trucks taking the cows away.

— John Fitzpatrick, Woodacre

American’s victory in Australia was inspiring

I was so impressed to see American Madison Keys play three sets of brilliant, competitive and interesting tennis to win the Australian Open women’s title last month. I found the women’s final much more interesting than the no-surprise men’s final where Italian Jannik Sinner took the crown.

For years, Keys labored in the shadow of high career expectations. Despite her obvious talent, she was not always considered competitive. Often, it seemed to me that she was distracted by the work of her charitable foundation. Now, just a couple weeks before her 30th birthday, she is no longer considered “young” in the sport. I credit two important things that happened before the Australian Open.

First, she decided to accept that she might never win a Grand Slam. She acknowledged to herself that she was able to play tennis at an extremely high level, that her career was nothing to be ashamed of. Second, she met Bjorn Fratangelo, who became her coach and, last November, her husband.

She grew to trust Fratangelo’s advice; the changes they made began to pay off. Keys always hit a hard ball. Now, she is hitting with increased confidence and accuracy. At the Australian Open, she defeated second-seeded Iga Swatek in the semifinal and, in the championship, she defeated the favorite, Aryna Sabalenka, the world’s top-ranked player.

Tennis finals can sometimes be anticlimactic — players are tired, sometimes injured and matches can be one-sided. Not in this Australian Open final. Keys took a close first set; Sabalenka took the second decisively. The third set was close and dramatic, with such a high level of play that commentators afterward called it an instant classic.

The most surprised person when she won was Keys herself. Her team — and the rest of the tennis-watching world — was not surprised at all.

— Julie Manson, Novato

Insurers can’t be blamed for the cost of health care

On Jan. 28, the IJ published an essay by the Bloomberg editorial board with the headline, “Health care system has a flawed design.” Its main point appears to be that employer-sponsored health insurance is a main contributor to our exorbitant health care costs. But I think that’s like blaming the high cost of repairing your car on your auto insurance instead of the auto repair shop.

An analysis of the private health-insurance industry suggests they are not a main contributor to our exorbitant health care. By law, insurance companies are mandated to spend at least 85% of premium revenues on health-care claims. Also, the major publicly traded health-care insurers have an average operating profit margin of 5%. It’s one of the lowest operating profit margins among major industrial sectors within the S&P 500.

When comparing U.S. health care costs to some developed countries (Switzerland, Norway and Germany, for example), the difference is shocking. Ozempic costs 10 times more in the U.S. than the countries mentioned ($1,000 a month versus around $100). Many other expensive drugs typically cost 3-to-4 times more in the U.S. than other countries.

Similarly, surgeries typically cost over two times more in the U.S. than the mentioned countries. American doctors make 2.2 times more than Germans, 2.9 times more than British and 3.8 times more than French ones. Meanwhile, our health care ranks poorly in comparison.

Our exorbitant health-care costs are not due so much to private insurers, but a lot more due to our uniquely exorbitant drug prices, surgeries costs and even doctors’ compensation.

— Gaetan Lion, Mill Valley