Name withheld by request
Cartoon Channel Where's Quigman? New Times' new format is fine. A bit more polished than before, but still essentially the same New Times I've been reading avidly every week for what seems like forever. Only one suggestion: Put the comics back on a single page or put them on the major articles at the front exclusively. I don't enjoy digging for them through all the stuff I don't care about. I'm certain I'm not the only one who feels that way.
Roxanne Dawkins
Mesa
Teacher's Spat
Boy to mentor: After reading "Student, Teaching" (Amy Silverman, June 1), I am convinced that the mother should be proud of her son rather than asking for a paycheck! The question should be, "Did he do a good job?" Probably better than who they would have had teaching the class. Funny how the child didn't think it was a big deal, or the parents of the students. But after the mother's statement about a paycheck, she is just another greedy parent wanting to cash in on her talented son. To me that is a sign of child abuse!
Tracy Reasoner
Phoenix
Charter flight: Students teaching, teachers and principals walking out, court cases; the list goes on and on. What happened to David Wadding is just another example of what is wrong at Dragonfleye. It's just another drop in the bucket. The school has been plagued with problems because of its director since 1996 (your article in 1996 detailed it perfectly) and yet, somewhere in the red tape and loopholes, the director remains. There has to be something done not only for the benefit of the children, but for the teachers and staff. Dragonfleye can be a wonderful school with the right people in charge. What will it take for the state Board of Education (Bonnie Barclay) to see that this particular school is not being run correctly?
Dolores Ramos
Phoenix
Bash & Popular
Bob's led: I am writing to tell you how much I enjoy music editor Bob Mehr's column "Bash & Pop." His droll mixture of sarcasm and self-deprecating humor, combined with useful and insightful commentary about the local music scene, provides a great read each week. Would-be local music boosters who are (inexplicably, in my view) upset that Bob is somehow "hurting" local music by expressing his occasionally strong views should take a few deep breaths and relax. Fearless music criticism is sorely needed, if the local music market is ever to mature. Mehr seems qualified for the task. His column should be taken for just what it is: one man's opinion, well-written, in a charming and original voice. For my money, he's generally right on the mark.
Dave Insley
Phoenix
Don't Ask, Don't Tell
Scary thought: I have always wondered why people do the crazy things they do, so while I found Dewey Webb's article on The Scary Guy ("High Marks," June 8) to be intriguing, I was still left with a major question unanswered: Why did he paint every visible part of his body, and especially his face, with permanent tattoos? I know if I met the guy in a bar, I'd first buy him a beer, then I'd ask him that question. Dewey should have, too.
Howard Alexander
Scottsdale
