Teacher shortage won’t go away anytime soon | Letters to the editor

Arthur Harley’s Viewpoint essay, “Think teacher shortage is a “myth”? I see it every day,” is right on point regarding the ongoing shortage of teachers.

I became a substitute teacher in Broward schools four years ago, before the COVID-19 epidemic. Even then, there were plenty of unfilled substitute positions in the system every day. When the epidemic hit, many teachers simply quit rather than risk getting the infection from students, whose more robust immune systems render them less risky for serious health impacts.

I did not have a teaching background, but I was asked to become a full-time teacher during that period to help make up for the shortfall of qualified educators. A bachelor’s degree qualifies most people for a temporary state teaching certificate, permitting individuals without teaching credentials or experience to provide full-time instruction. In fact, the state has increased the duration of the temporary certificates from three to five years, ostensibly because of the shortage of teachers with regular certificates.

The problem is not going away. Chronic shortages of regular teachers and substitutes continue to plague Broward and other large urban public school districts with no obvious remedies on the horizon. The shortage is not associated with COVID anymore, as a number of issues continue to render the teaching profession an unattractive career option for many people.

Keith Bromery, Fort Lauderdale

The writer is a substitute teacher at Wilton Manors Elementary School.

A bridge, not a tunnel

To me, this one is easy. While there’s admittedly some appeal for a tunnel, there are so many better reasons to build a bridge across the fairly narrow New River.

The best are these: We simply can’t afford a tunnel, even with federal assistance. But other, more pedestrian reasons favor a bridge. The renovation of the Henry E. Kinney Tunnel, which takes U.S. 1 under the New River, seems to be taking a very long time.

While both tunnels and bridges may require expansion to handle increased traffic over time, I would bet (without actually knowing) the cost of repairing or expanding a bridge is simpler and cheaper than with a tunnel.

We have more than our share of rain, too. Is a flooded tunnel (please don’t suggest it can’t happen) preferable to a far-less-likely-to-flood bridge? Finally, unless we can find the money to replace every other bridge over the river, to make it a completely unrestricted waterway, which we can’t, let us move on.

The bridge wins.

Michael Peskoe, Fort Lauderdale

For better fiscal health

Recent fiascos on the part of Fort Lauderdale elected officials, the latest being the Las Olas garage lighting problem; the obsessive desire to construct a train tunnel and not a bridge at much higher cost of maybe six-fold; selling our water plant to private industry and signing 50-year leases for city property, to name a few, call into question our elected officials’ financial acumen.

During the 2024 city elections, voters should demand that all candidates produce personal financial statements and tax returns. Let’s make sure that those making critical life-altering financial decisions with our tax money are capable, competent and worthy of our vote.

Howard A. Tescher, Fort Lauderdale

Those roads in Boca

I have lived in Boca Raton for more than 20 years and I have never seen our roads in such poor condition. I can’t even see the white lines that mark the travel lanes. It’s very dangerous. Is the paper planning any upcoming articles about this? Have you received other complaints? I’m sure I’m not the only one who sees this.

Grace Greve, Boca Raton

For frosted LED bulbs

I am all in favor of LED lights saving money on people’s electricity bills. All I ask is that new laws be passed compelling all LED lights to be covered with frosted bulbs rather than clear bulbs.

The reason is that LED lights are so bright and piercing that they could affect your vision and may harm your eyesight. It’s like having the sun stuck into your face.

Vivek Golikeri, Dania Beach