Marin IJ Readers’ Forum for Aug. 21, 2022

Bonta needs to focus on swindling of EDD

Prior to the June 7 primary, the Marin Independent Journal published the Bay Area News Group endorsement of interim California Attorney General Rob Bonta. I would like to offer up the case against Bonta.

Bonta has announced that he will be putting together a task force out of the Attorney General’s Office to make sure that the state’s Regional Housing Needs Assessment numbers are followed through by California’s cities. This is being done even though the interim state auditor has found a serious flaw with the way RHNA numbers are computed.

What’s the hurry? Why not wait until the RHNA procedure is cleared up either in the courts or by the auditor?

A far juicier target to tackle would be going after the folks who cheated California’s Employment Development Department of more than $25 billion in fraudulent COVID-19 claims. I find it ludicrous that some of those fraudulent claims were made by prisoners on Death Row.

Even if Bonta only recovered 1% of the $25 billion, that would result in $250 million for the state kitty.

— Rick Johnson, Novato

Montessori methods could recharge public education

I am writing in regard to the editorial cartoon by Ken Siers of the Charlotte News and Observer published in the Marin IJ on Aug. 12. It is a drawing of a computer with an extremely low battery representing “U.S. education.” I suggest the California Department of Education recharge by accessing a battery of highly trained early childhood educators: Montessori teachers.

The three main methods of early childhood education (preschool through third grade) in the United States are based on educators of the early 20th century: John Dewey, Rudolf Steiner and Dr. Maria Montessori. Most public schools follow Dewey. Waldorf Schools follow the philosopher Steiner. Montessori schools are guided by the work of the physician Montessori.

Montessori (1870-1952) was the first woman to achieve a medical degree from the University of Rome (1896). Interested in psychiatry, she, by chance, studied a group of children housed at the university hospital. With compassionate observation and interaction with these children, she wondered if their problems and deviant behaviors weren’t caused by boredom and lack of stimulation.

To find out, she presented them with simple household objects, then books, then learning materials and noted which materials they liked and those they ignored. She was awed that her simple methods led children of mixed ages and backgrounds to a sense of collaboration, competence, confidence and creativity.

When her hospital children passed the Italian education tests at a higher rate than children from regular schools, she knew she had discovered something important. She devoted her life to training teachers.

Are Montessori students successful? Ask Sergey Brin and Larry Page, the founders of Google who laugh about developing Google in their Montessori classroom. Ask Joshua Bell, acclaimed violinist, and Stephen Curry whose creative three-point shots have benefitted the Warriors.

If California wants teachers, education leaders should accept Montessori training in credentialing.

— Gayle W. Mills, San Rafael

We are losing the sense of what is important news

What’s happening? Not long ago, if a former president was accused of stealing “top secret” files, as well as being investigated for espionage, the next day’s headline would have been printed in bold letters across the top of every newspaper in the U.S. — probably in red ink.

It seems like now, with recent news about an FBI raid of Donald Trump’s home, some newspapers aren’t even going to mention it. How is that possible?

— Sandra Macleod White, San Rafael

Interests of new Marin resident deserve coverage

I am a University of California, Berkeley graduate and a recently resettled resident of California in Marin County. Last fall, I subscribed to the Marin Independent Journal, mainly to get the local news.

Besides being very pleased with its coverage, I want to congratulate the news teams for the excellent coverage of critical issues, not only local but statewide, national and global. I especially appreciate the attention to the spectrum of environment, energy, water and wildlife in news and editorials.

It is as if your paper were tailored to my personal interests.

— Peter Freeman, Mill Valley