School uniforms a good idea

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Nov 21, 2006

CONGRATULATIONS TO Principal Ben Chavez of the American Indian Public Charter School in Oakland, who decided to put his students in uniforms. It is about time.

Students in many other countries wear uniforms. They look well- groomed and are learning that their appearance is important to their future in the business world.

Many parents today cannot keep up with the demands of their children to compete with the expensive clothing and shoes of more fortunate children, and uniforms keep the children on an even basis.

I frequently see the children from St. Leo's in their neat uniforms. I also see scruffy boys from other schools with their baggy pants and underwear showing, and the girls with their belly buttons showing and their too-tight pants. Now is the time for them to learn good grooming.

Contrary to current thinking that it doesn't make a difference of how one dresses if that person can do the job, appearance is important in the business world. Now is the time to learn it.

Do you want a baggy-panted doctor or a lawyer with her belly button showing? I don't. It is never too early to learn.

Lois Brown

Oakland

Affording a championship

I AM a huge Oakland Athletics fan. I can remember all the games I attended with my father when I was a small boy. Growing up, we would follow the A's through every season.

The A's are winners, they made it to the American League Championship Series. I was very proud of this great team.

Still, the Oakland A's don't have the ability to keep quality players/superstars on their roster. When are the A's going to have enough money to keep their Mark McGwires, Jason Giambis, Barry Zitos, Miguel Tejadas and Frank Thomases?

Is the owner of the A' that poor? Do the A's not make enough revenue each year? What's the deal here?

Why can't the A's have a team of superstars who will blow away the competition and win a World Series? A World Series victory is long overdue.

If Cisco Field and a move to Fremont means more money to get superstar players, then I am all for it. A championship is long overdue in the Bay Area.

None of the San Francisco Bay Area teams are winning the big ones: Super Bowls, World Series, Stanley Cups, NBA championships, etc.

Edwin Freeman

San Leandro

Sobering mistake

ON NOV. 18, on Foothill Boulevard, the Hayward Police Department decided to install the sobriety checkpoint from hell. It was impossible.

Picture three lanes of traffic funneling down to one, with the drivers of every vehicle required to stop, remove their driver's license, present it to an officer, and answer basic questions relating to any drinking possibly done throughout the day.

It took me one hour and 15 minutes to drive from B Street to Hazel Avenue by Safeway. If I had been drinking, I would have been sober by the time I reached the actual checkpoint.

I think any conscientious citizen understands and accepts the need for traffic safety programs, checkpoints and such. This, however, bordered on the absurd. The Jackson-Foothill corridor is a major Bay Area connector and shutting it down in such a manner is akin to closing all the northbound lanes of Interstate 580.

Why did Hayward police feel such extreme measures were necessary? Have not the random selection -- every fifth-car-style checkpoints - - been shown to be highly successful?

I cannot believe the Hayward mayor's office condones such an action. After all, Hayward is not Fallujah, the Patriot Act aside, and a full-blown roadblock checkpoint is not required nor desirable.

I applaud the difficult job that is performed on our behalf by our public servants. Still, in the interest of doing good, excesses can happen. That must be commented on and limited. The majority of us do not drink and drive.

Larry Hunter

Oakland

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