Foxworth demonstrates true community spirit

Thank you for your profile of Domonique Foxworth ("Foxworth has his head in the game, other interests, too," Dec. 25). My story about him will add another dimension, which from the point of view of our city is very appealing.

I am the elementary coordinator at Paul's Place Outreach Center in Pigtown, and although I have never met Domonique Foxworth, the children of our after school program, "After 3," have.

On Dec. 22, 24 of our youngsters, ranging in age from 6 to 11, were hosted by Jared Gaither, Tom Zbikowski and Mr. Foxworth at the ESPN Zone. Each of our youngsters had a chance to mingle with some of the Ravens players and the Raven Cheerleaders, have a great meal at the ESPN Zone and then was given a new winter coat, holiday gifts and game cards. Lastly, through the generosity of Mr. Foxworth's BORN (Boys Opportunity & Resource Network) Program, each of the children also received a $50 shopping spree at the neighboring Barnes & Noble.

As Christmas times go, I know that our kids will remember this one and the generosity of Mr. Foxworth, Mr. Gaither the Ravens and the Raven Cheerleaders. Shirley Kollin, Baltimore The writer is elementary coordinator of Paul's Place

What's the problem with government-run health care?

I can't quarrel with Professor Peter Morici's prognostications about the inadequacies of the underachieving Senate health reform bill ("Senate health reform bill would increase costs, reduce quality," Commentary, Dec. 27). But there is an internal inconsistency in stating that the American public is "increasingly leery about a government-run health care option" while touting the comparative cost controls of French, German and British health care systems, to name a few.

These are government-run health care programs that cover 100 percent of their citizenry. I think only the most perversely doctrinaire would be opposed to "government-run health care" that would cover everybody and lower the costs of health care as a percentage of GNP.

Every other "government-run health care option" in the world seems to be able to do this. In contrast, the Senate bill only aspires to cover another 31 million people by 2013. In other words, not everybody, and not now. It's dismaying that our collective American sense of "can do" does not extend to health care coverage for our sickest citizens.

Paul R. Schlitz Jr., Baltimore

Israeli response in Gaza was 'measured and proportionate'

Your report ("Hamas rally marks year since Israeli Gaza offensive," Dec. 28) was one-sided, showing only the Palestinian side. In the months preceding the conflict, the Palestinians fired more than 200 rockets and more than 100 mortar shells into Israel at civilian targets. The prime minister of Israel went on al-Arabiya - the Arab language television station in Dubai that broadcasts throughout the Arab world - and appealed to the Palestinians to stop firing their rockets and mortars into Israel. His appeal had no impact. The Palestinian attacks on Israel continued. The Israeli response was measured and proportionate.

Gary J. Kaplowitz, Pikesville

County teachers don't need another meaningless program

As a retired Baltimore County teacher and a former supervisor of training for a large industrial corporation, I need to respond to the article in The Sun on Dec. 27, "New grading system for Balto. Co. pupils." Once again I see the top-heavy county school system foisting a ridiculous program, "AIM," onto teachers and administrators who are already doing all they can to deal with problem children, disassociated parents and weak, self-serving administrators.

I don't know who Barbara Dezmon is, but I'm willing to bet a retirement check that if she ever were a teacher in a classroom, it was so long ago that she's forgotten what it's like. And from experience, I can say that one forgets quickly.

In the dark ages when I was learning to be a teacher, I was taught that learning consisted of acquiring knowledge, attitude (as in direction of approach) and skills. When I was a trainer in an industrial plant, I learned that training consisted of acquiring skills, many of which were taught as responses to given stimuli. Training is not education. One of the reasons I left teaching early was that what I was expected to do was more nearly training than it was educating.

According to the article, Ms. Dezmon "acknowledges that some of the items are in jargon." One of my old faithful lessons dealt with avoiding jargon in clear writing. Teachers and administrators shouldn't have to "explain them so that parents understand." As creator of the program, wasn't that her job? Maybe those administrators who will "look at the thousands of pieces of data and find out where the teaching is not effective so they can correct problems" should start by looking at the AIM program and put it on the bottom of the stack of myriad other tasks they're expected to perform and get to it when they've done everything else. Then, maybe they'll have time to get into classrooms more often and work with teachers and those students having problems. That seems a better way to "correct problems."

Kay Wilson, Bel Air