Please drive with care as kids head to school
I often exercise outdoors in the morning year-round. The mornings are getting darker, and this brought my attention to the students waiting for their buses or walking to school. I noticed a couple of middle-school boys running around their bus stop area playing tag. This involved running in the road numerous times (without looking) to avoid being tagged.
This served as a reminder to drivers to slow down and really watch what is near or on the road, especially between 6:45 a.m. and 9 a.m., when many busy people are driving to work and students are moving toward schools.
I bring this reminder with some additional information to consider. I am an educator and a bit of a geek when it comes to brain research and especially the adolescent brain. The consensus of neuroscientists is that brain development likely persists until at least the mid-20s — possibly until the 30s. Although significant development of the prefrontal region occurs during adolescence, experts argue that it continues until (at least) the mid-20s. The prefrontal region functions include: decision-making, impulse control, logical thinking and risk management, among other things.
Basically, many kids and teens act before thinking through all the possible consequences whether they are on the playground, at home, the mall or walking on busy roads to school. It's our job to be extra vigilant as the days get darker and the roads get slicker. I want every student to make it to school safely; the rush would never be worth the cost. Please slow down and watch the roads closely.
— Renee Helie
Anchorage
We need to close doors we didn't mean to open with bill
While reading the article regarding APD's search to see if SB 91 has affected crime rates, it occurred to me that there is a flaw in their approach. I don't think they'll find an uptick in crime no matter how diligently they search their records, because since the bill became law, there has been less attention paid to petty crime by the department, so some individuals and businesses have found it futile to call them. Therefore, criminals have become more bold, some even walking out of stores with carts of goods, and facing no resistance or consequences. This is the unintended consequence. Please understand me: I am not criticizing the department for their decision to use less manpower on petty crime. Given the flaws in this law, they're probably doing the right thing, especially given the current uptick in opioid use, where they need to concentrate manpower.
Which brings me to my next point: since we as a state approved marijuana usage, there has been an uptick in drug use and drug-related crime.
I know there are other factors, but these two large ones seem to me to be driving the problem. One the legislature can fix. The other is up to us. We've opened two doors we didn't intend to open, and it's time to close them.
— Nancy Winniford
Anchorage
When it comes to dogs, we knew what science confirmed
So scientists train dogs to lie still in an MRI machine for tests and come to the conclusion that dogs really love their owners. ("Neuroscientist knows what your dog is thinking," Sept. 17, 2017) I have one word from dog owners everywhere: DUH!
— Amy Whinston
Anchorage
The views expressed here are the writers' own and are not necessarily endorsed by Alaska Dispatch News, which welcomes a broad range of viewpoints. To submit a letter under 200 words for consideration, email letters@alaskadispatch.com, or click here to submit via any web browser. Submitting a letter to the editor constitutes granting permission for it to be edited for clarity, accuracy and brevity. Send longer works of opinion to commentary@alaskadispatch.com.