Texas has a reading program

Subject: “Texas must invest in early reading,” by Bill Hammond, Monday Opinion.

Hammond, a former Texas state legislator, chairman of the Texas Workforce Commission and CEO of the Texas Association of Business, writes about the need to bring reading academies to Texas, citing the miracle in Mississippi, where reading academies have helped improve reading scores in recent years.

In fact, there is a reading academy requirement in Texas. House Bill 3, passed during the 86th Texas Legislature, established the requirement that all teacher candidates teaching students in preschool through 6th grade demonstrate proficiency in the science of teaching reading on a new, stand-alone certification exam.

This also applies to school principals and primary school teachers of mathematics and science. This requirement came into force on January 1, 2021.

With that in mind, I invite Mr. Hammond to now ask a different question. Has the introduction of the RA requirement had an impact on reading ability? The “Mississippi Miracle” may already be happening in Texas.

Unfortunately, we know in education that it takes more than a year or two for a new curriculum to be fully adopted by teachers and then effectively implemented.

Rebecca Good, Allen

Continue as a background dancer

Subject: “Supporters protest for fired dancers,” Monday’s Metro story.

Elizabeth Myong did a great job covering the rally for the laid-off dancers of the Dallas Black Dance Theater, and it was wonderful to see the solidarity of workers, retirees, and the community at large. But labor and civil rights struggles are not won in a single day. We all need to continue to support the dancers until they prevail, and I’m sure we will.

Gene Lantz, Dallas

Believe the truth too

Subject: “What has happened to the truth? As King taught me, our nation must re-evaluate the danger of lies,” by Peter Johnson, Sunday Opinion.

Johnson wrote about the importance of lies. And truth. I want to share with you another level of thought about the human condition. East of EdenJohn Steinbeck wrote, “A truth not believed can hurt a man far more than a lie.” I offer this truth as an addendum to Johnson’s writing.

Tom Agase, Highland Village

A dual stance on abortion

Subject: “Many Women Oppose Abortion,” by Keith Bernard Marx, Wednesday Letters.

You can be a woman who wants control over her own body and still be against abortion.

Mindy Vinton, Dallas/Oak Lawn

Substance behind the dog whistle

Subject: “There’s the Dog Whistle,” by Holly Skaggs, Sunday Letters.

In response to this letter, it is important to clarify that while the GOP campaigns do not explicitly use the term “Christian nationalism,” the ideology is evident in their rhetoric and policies. Donald Trump, for example, has made several statements consistent with Christian nationalist themes, such as promising to combat anti-Christian prejudice with a federal task force and framing political struggles as spiritual battles.

In addition, at the Republican National Convention in Texas, Republican Party leaders pushed for policies to promote Christian values, such as mandatory Bible study in public schools. Although the term is not used directly, this is a clear example of Christian nationalism in action.

To dismiss this as mere journalistic bias ignores the real connections between current Republican rhetoric and Christian nationalist ideology. To claim that “Christian nationalism” is simply a “dog-whistle” accusation misses these essential questions.

Alan D. Bryan, Richardson

Cowboys grow with mediocrity

Subject: “Team is league’s first valued at over $10 billion – Franchise is worth over $2.5 billion more than Rams, No. 2 on Sportico list,” news report, August 14.

Jerry Jones bought the Dallas Cowboys in 1989 for $150 million. Today, the franchise is worth more than $10 billion. Without a doubt, Jones is an amazing businessman. In the early years, he had great success with Jimmy Johnson and Barry Switzer. Since then, he has had nothing to brag about. There is no incentive when your wealth grows exponentially with a mediocre product.

It’s time for Jerry Jones to follow President Joe Biden’s example and step away from football management and player negotiations. He should hire a good general manager who can take us back to the glory days of Tex Schramm and Tom Landry. He should use his newfound wealth to pay top talent and bring championships back to our community.

Rudra Nadhan, Arlington

Financial blockade for Arlington

Can someone please remind me why the Dallas Cowboys (and every other professional sports franchise) need taxpayer money to build stadiums for a private entertainment company.

I am convinced that the Dallas Cowboys’ financial dominance in Arlington is so absolute that residents who live on busy streets on game days are not allowed to park fans’ cars and get a few dollars in return, lest they endanger the Cowboys’ parking monopoly.

It takes an ironic sense of humor to justify socialism for the rich and free market economics for the poor.

Matt Wenthold, Denton

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