Ebonics debate voices and the Oakland plan examined
GUEST COLUMN criticizes Crossfire panel on Ebonics while explaining the Oakland School District aims to train teachers and help students master both Ebonics and standard English. The piece argues Ebonics is a distinct dialect with rules and cultural value, not mere ungrammatical speech. Jozef Figa of Hamilton College in Cedar Rapids contributes.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Ebonics
Oakland
Chaucer
Shakespeare
Mark Twain
Jacqueline Susann
Barbara Cartland
Russian
Polish
Oakland Project
Slovenia
Hungary
Prekmurge
Poland
Upper Silesia
Professor Higgins
Jozef Figa
Hamilton College
Cedar Rapids
Thomas Walz
Deborah Mathis
Time Magazine
Noelridge ice rink debate reflects community hopes
Letters to the Gazette urged Cedar Rapids support for an ice rink near Noelridge Park, arguing youth benefits, neighborhood traffic concerns, and city vitality. Writers praise planned recreation while criticizing residents who oppose site use and call for inclusive, community-centered development.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
The
Gazette
Noelridge
Uts
Cedar Rapids
Harding Middle School
Noelridge Park
Duck Pond
Loraine Street
Sun City
Personal touch vs rapid internet growth in a modern age
A reader argues for slower, more personable society amid rapid tech. They value eye contact and handwritten letters over digital shortcuts, note Constant internet expansion, and urge balance between progress and values while welcoming genuine human connection.
Gazette Letters Policy Outline
The Gazette states it does not vouch for letter accuracy or judge opinions. It invites corrections and contradictions from other readers and offers equal opportunity for publication.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Gazette
Gazette welcomes letters and guest columns policy
The Cedar Rapids Gazette outlines letter and guest column guidelines. Writers must include full name signature street address and daytime phone number with 300 word limit per letter and one letter per writer every 30 days. Addresses are not published and online names are insufficient for identification.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
the Gazette
Cedar Rapids
Iowa
Gazette
Public funds in school tax credits sparking split on separation
Laurence Fish of Urbana criticizes Gov Branstad's plan to double tax credits for private and parochial schools, arguing it violates the church state separation. He urges voters to oppose public money supporting parochial schools and defends religious freedom.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Americans United For Separation of Church and State
Terry Branstad
Branstad
Laurence Fish
Urbana
Ramblin column notes on Victor Fegner hanging invite correction
The Jan 5 Ramblin column clarifies that George B. Brown represented United Press International not AP and disputes Brown’s reaction to the execution. It notes Brown’s long career, describes Feguer’s family not claiming the body, and that remains were taken to Potter’s Field with pallbearer missing.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Victor Fegner
George B. Brown
United Press International
Associated Press
Brown
John Ely
Dan Perks
The
Des Moines
Hearst
Khrushchev
Coon Rapids
James Flansberg
Feguer
Potter’s Field
Chicago Tribune
UPI
James H. Sutton
Downsizing government and leadership to save funds
George Pelisek of Cedar Rapids argues for broad downsizing across federal offices and high level positions including Congress and the Supreme Court to achieve a balanced budget and debt reduction, calling for decisive action rather than lip service.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Supreme Court
Congress
Redundancy in a Photo Sign and Other Phrases
A reader notes redundancies in a mail photo caption and elsewhere such as no trespassing without permission and donated as a gift. The column cites misused phrases including Wapsie and Camp Wapsie Y while questioning apostrophes and Nielsen NFL football references.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Jones County
Anamosa
Also Mentioned on This Page
Joseph Pellerin Marion
Ross MacLane
Noelridge School
Kenwood
Harding
Kennedy
Reyrn
George Pelisek
Wapsie-Y
Cookie Bachtell
Marion
First United Methodist Church
Webster
TV Networks
Carl Kane
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