Teachers' role in student success, Nassau County family court building, courts vs Trump, Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl halftime show

Three components for student success

Here are three necessary components for a successful education: a dedicated teacher, family support and a child’s well-being and motivation. Remove one and a child can be a successful student, but if two components are missing, there is failure [“Taxing issue that won’t go away,” Letters, Feb. 5].

The most dedicated, educated, creative teacher cannot educate a child who is malnourished, tired after using electronic devices much of the night, fearful of the environment because of home dysfunction or bullying peers, and who does not have the guardian support that encourages learning.

A teacher only has control of what they present in the classroom. What percentage of school taxes goes to teachers’ salaries and what percentage goes to administrators? There seems to be a concerning lack of respect for teachers in this country. They are the building blocks of each generation.

When society fails to raise children properly, are teachers expected to pick up the slack? Thomas Valva’s teachers should be given a stipend to pay for the therapy they might need after their valiant efforts to save his life by barraging Child Protective Services to remove him from his abusive home. If teachers were more respected, perhaps Thomas would still be alive.

— Breda Paccione, Northport

The writer retired as a speech language pathologist for the New York City Department of Education.

As a retired school district administrator, I was glad to see that about half of Long Island’s teachers are earning reasonable salaries [“LI median teacher pay tops $130G in 34 districts,” News, Feb. 2]. Unfortunately, these teachers generally earn the cited salaries only after teaching for 20 years and holding a master’s degree.

New teachers on Long Island generally earn only about half of the salaries indicated in the article. We should keep in mind that, when unionized public or private employees earn fair salaries, history shows us that wages and salaries tend to rise for all groups of employees throughout our economy.

— Robert Marcus, Setauket

How many times will Newsday publish articles about teachers’ salaries? I feel like it continually writes these stories as if it has a mission against Long Island teachers. These paid professionals continue their education throughout their careers to increase their knowledge and salaries. Many of us could have chosen this career path.

We should be grateful to have the dedication these individuals offer our students.

— Phyllis Norchi, Hauppauge

This new building should be something!

It took a little over a year to build the Empire State Building, about eight years to build the Roman Colosseum, and about 14 years to build the original World Trade Center.

With the Nassau Family and Matrimonial Court Complex still not completed after over 20 years, surely it will rival the Taj Mahal, which also took over 20 years to be built, among the world’s architectural wonders [“Court not in session,” News, Feb. 7].

We can’t wait, but apparently we must.

— Thomas Sutcliffe, Garden City

Well, here we are again. Another day, week, month, year, and decade have gone by, and still, Nassau County’s new family court has yet to open.

A few months ago, there was a lot of chest pounding, as if electricity had just been invented, but it turns out there was not even a spark.

How this has gone on for so long with no investigation is an injustice to county taxpayers. Perhaps I should be sending this letter to Elon Musk instead.

— Peter A. Piciulo, Carle Place

The writer is president of the Court Officers Benevolent Association of Nassau County.

Can courts really stop Trump’s march?

Here is what worries me. I keep reading about how the courts will stop the illegal actions of President Donald Trump and his ally Elon Musk “Musk bypasses DOGE scrutiny while his power in D.C. grows,” News, Feb. 10]. However, if supporters are indicted or arrested, wouldn’t Trump just grant pardons again?

And the Supreme Court has given him a get-out-of-jail-free card by ruling that the president has immunity for any actions taken in his “official capacity.” I’d love to hear that this is a baseless worry.

— Ellen Solow Holzman, Mattituck

Halftime show wasn’t music to my ears

Watching the Super Bowl halftime show featuring Kendrick Lamar, I walked away in disgust over the NFL allowing this entertainment to be tilted in one direction [“Lamar brings America into Super Bowl,” Flash!, Feb. 10].

I understand the performance is geared to a younger generation, but it likely annoyed many who aren’t hip-hop fans. The halftime entertainment needs to be balanced for everyone watching the Super Bowl.

— Alan Zederbaum, Holbrook