Fresno Bee readers’ views on Bullard High students and cell phones, abortion & more

Crazy to let students use phones

This letter is about not allowing students to use their cell phones in the classroom. I have been an employee of Fresno Unified School District for more than 20 years. I’ve worked as a secretary in the main office at Bullard High School. I have worked as a teacher’s aid sitting in the back of classrooms. And we need to help our teachers and students now. They are suffering.

The teachers and the students are suffering over fellow students constantly abusing the rules regarding using cell phones in the classroom. I’ve been shocked at the number of students who are completely ignoring the teacher in the front of the class.

Parents, if you had seen what I have, there would be no doubt about letting students use cell phones in the classroom. The only answer is “no.” Let the teachers know, let administrators know. Stop this craziness now.

Make men more responsible

If law enforcement is going to police our wombs, if seems only fair that the law punish the guys who put babies in there.

All men of reproductive age must register and must report each and every instance of unprotected sex with a female. Failure to report is a felony. Any child born of unprotected sex is the sole responsibility of the “father” to raise, whether he wants to or not.

“Fathers” are not allowed to move across state lines to avoid responsibility and/or punishment, as they will be arrested at the border. Suggesting or assisting in an abortion is also a felony.

Recalling the one-only Jack Hannah

The passing of Jack Hannah needs to be recognized. Between baseball, music and Jesus, it seems to me that Jack Hannah left his mark on this entire region with a well-balanced life and positive influence. I can only wish I had a chance to play for that guy, as he carried himself in an extraordinary manner at every turn.

Oh, how I wish America had many more like him. But I should know better, because there was only one Jack Hannah.

No fan of new taxes for stadium

I can see those that have are at it again, trying to get those of us who have less to pay for their pet peeves.

How so, you ask. The sales tax initiative to support Fresno State. If you want new stadium boosters, I suggest you raise the money, I don’t want to pay for your fun time.

I’m not against you building, I’m against my sales tax going up. I’m against the zoo measure — you want animals in cages, you pay for it, I don’t want to support that. If I did I give it on my own, please stop forcing us to pay for your stuff. We need better roads and safer streets, not football fields for college athletes.

Taxes are used for public good, not sports fields and collage buildings.

Stop cheaters from gaming the system

The story of the ALRB penalizing a grower for misclassifying employees as independent contractors focused on how one worker felt harmed by the lack of documentation on their paycheck stub.

In reality, many ag workers are thrilled at the prospect of not having taxes deducted from their paychecks, and actually seek out employers who are willing to follow this unscrupulous practice. After all, they can always pay taxes and file returns themselves, and then they have the documentation they need to receive government benefits.

The success of our regulated economy depends on everyone following the rules. The real crime is cheaters, whether businesses or workers, profiting by gaming the system and thereby undercutting everyone else.

Move homeless people to shelters

So, Marek, how can the city reduce pedestrian deaths? Three years ago, I purchased 200 reflective vests and passed them out to homeless folks wandering Blackstone along with $20 if they promised to wear them. I ended up wasting a couple of hundred bucks and only added to Fresno’s litter woes. My apologies Fresno.

So, lets support the mayor’s effort to move the homeless from the streets into shelters, which should reduce close calls, accidents, deaths, first-responder calls and emergency room workloads. Then work to pass an ordinance where cited jaywalkers can choose between the fine or picking up trash, and ask police to cooperate by enforcing jaywalking laws and issuing citations. Details can be worked through.

But so long as leaders remain silent on why civility matters in democratic societies and continue allowing for-profit “advocates” to set our agendas, it will be up to the middle roaders to find their voice for making arguments for ordinances that exact repeatable and enforceable penalties that pressure repeat offenders to change their bad habits. Short of that, all the sideline pontificating, the cocktail jibber jabber, and columns like Marek’s and my response to it, will be of little consequence.

Don’t impose beliefs on others

Thank you, California.

Thank you for upholding a woman’s right to have body autonomy. To have the right to say “it’s my body, not your’s.”

And thank you for upholding the right to contraception. Not just for men’s condoms (funny how some states and political parties don’t have a problem with men’s contraception either, just women’s; unless, of course, men want to use those condoms with other men, then it’s a whole ‘nother issue).

As much as I can find fault with this state, this county, this city, I can’t find fault with the effort to maintain protection for those of us who live here and wish to just live our lives in peace and privacy.

Those who would presume to take away those rights based on prejudice, so-called morality, religious dogma, plain bigotry and hate or fear or denial of their own issues are a pathetic lot. They see only their own myopic world with clouded lenses that deny the fullness of life a rounded and diverse community offers.

So sad. So bad.

When we acknowledge we don’t have the right to impose our beliefs on others, only then will we find peace.

This story was originally published August 28, 2022 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Fresno Bee readers’ views on Bullard High students and cell phones, abortion & more."