Year-round school always a bad idea | Letters to the editor

The bad idea that just won’t die is back — again.

The idea of year-round school has been tried not once, but repeatedly, and ultimately rejected by the parents (voters) it was supposed to help. (HB 891, now headed to the governor’s desk, calls for a pilot year-round school calendar in four yet-to-be-chosen districts).

As a 50-year youth group volunteer, I can say there are many other important educational experiences besides attending school. Allowing every school district to set its own calendar has rendered almost impossible trying to hold statewide events such as scout jamborees, church camps, youth conventions or family trips if they are to last longer than a mandatory holiday weekend.

Some of my family members attended Miami public schools under the quinmester system of five equal time segments. Endlessly repeating failed ideas and expecting different results is the functional definition of insanity. Perhaps that’s why politicians are always seemingly in favor of it.

Back when all schools started after Labor Day, we managed pretty well. Should we try that again, maybe?

Dale Dietzman, North Lauderdale

Veto this bad bill

The Florida Legislature passed the “presumption of parental time sharing” bill. This presumptive default to 50-50 timesharing between divorced parents was responsible for the murder of Greyson Kessler by his sperm donor parent, who was never a real parent. He wanted Greyson’s mother to abort; he didn’t want his name on the birth certificate.

Because the judge was misinformed or confused, he awarded 50-50 timesharing to the murderer. Greyson cried and was very upset after timesharing visits. May he rest in peace; may Florida and its judges protect Florida’s children.

Ask Gov. Ron DeSantis to veto this lethal bill. Call him 850-488-7146 or email him flgov.com.

House Bill 1301, if it becomes law, may sound fair, but it is a real danger to children.

Sheila Jaffe, Delray Beach

The writer is founder of Families Against Court Travesties (factscourtwatch.org)

Editor’s Note: The bill passed the Senate, 34-6, and the House, 102-12. The roll call votes are online.

‘Warden’ DeSantis

Gov. Ron DeSantis has threatened to put a state prison near Disney World. There’s no need for this. DeSantis has already turned the entire state of Florida into a prison.

Warden DeSantis dictates health care, available books, what can or cannot be discussed and lifestyle choices.

Forget electing legislators to represent this prison. Warden DeSantis dictates who’s in charge of what. He will replace your elected representatives with an appointed toadie. He runs this prison as any egotistical, poorly-trained and petty prison warden would — by putting opinions over facts.

Frederick Mitchel, Fort Lauderdale

In defense of Dr. Ladapo

Regarding your rather vicious editorial calling Dr. Joseph Lapado, Florida’s surgeon general, a liar, I have these observations.

First, he’s likely a lot smarter than the Sun Sentinel editors (Steve Bousquet, Dan Sweeney and Julie Anderson) with respect to medical issues. Dr. Ladapo holds M.D. and Ph.D. degrees in health policy from Harvard.

Second, as one who holds three degrees in math and statistics, I can say that your analysis and criticism of his study is superficial and erroneous. It is simply a fact that young adult males in Florida have an abnormally high risk of cardiac complications from the vaccine. That is real science.

A few weeks ago, the author of an article on COVID vaccinations in the highly respected British journal Nature Communications stated that in England, the effect size for a male second dose was actually larger than the Florida study.

Of course, you used a snide quote from Twain to make your literary case that “figures don’t lie, but liars figure.” But this is an issue of science, and your editorial board is on the wrong side of the scientific truth.

Barry Render, Ph.D., Winter Park

The writer is Harwood Professor of Operations Management (emeritus) at Rollins College.