West Oaks Hospital, Don Quixote and Galveston ISD

Dianna Pharr
www.keepeanesinformed.com

Big mistake: Mr. Connelly, I just wanted to drop you a brief e-mail and tell you how much I liked your commentary regarding this issue. Watchdogs across this state and nation continually tell me about the never-ending fight to stop district intimidation. We here in Katy have battled it since we formed our group in August 2005.

GISD will be making a big mistake if they carry out this ridiculous threat. It will give the district, the GISD board and GISD superintendent a huge black eye. It will also infuriate watchdog activists everywhere and will be an enormous waste of hard-earned tax dollars. It is a truly sad day when one realizes that to some the word "dissent" has become a four-letter word.

Chris Cottrell
Co-Founder/Katy Citizen Watchdog$
www.katycitizens.org and www.radiofreekaty.com

Give me a break! Elected officials threatening to sue one of the taxpayers in their district for having the audacity to criticize them? According to the Texas Comptroller's Web site, GISD has more than one nonteaching staff member for each teacher, they spend only 43.7 cents out of each education dollar in the classroom and the school district is rated only academically acceptable. Sounds like more parents and taxpayers need to be criticizing them.

I try not to assume motives, particularly when elected officials are doing things that are really stupid, but it appears the GISD officials are wanting to squelch any criticism. It won't work. They should focus their attention on the students and deal with the criticism. It appears to be deserved.

Peggy Venable

HOT SHOT

Press photographer gets national recognition

Houston Press staff photographer Daniel Kramer has been named a finalist in feature photography in Editor & Publisher magazine's 2007 Photos of the Year ­contest.

Kramer was cited for his photograph of a toddler dressed in cowboy garb at Day of the Dead festivities sponsored by Multicultural Education and Counseling Through the Arts (MECA).

The contest, sponsored by Canon, selected winners from hundreds of selections from photographers in print media across the United States.