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Father knows best

FATHER KNOWS BEST

Thanks for your "I was a teenage Gramlich" article (April 6). Ned Gramlich was my father. I remember when I wrote my college thesis (in geology) and he was so proud that I had learned some jargon (it didn't matter that it wasn't economics, just any jargon was good enough)! But he was a teacher first and foremost (a professor at the University of Michigan), and he wanted you to understand the jargon, not just spout it out. I'm not surprised at all that he not only volunteered to judge this competition but also was the one who asked the toughest questions.

Sarah Gramlich Howard
East Greenbush, New York

EVEN MORE TEACHING POINTS

In a recent letter to the editor ("More Teaching Points," April 6), the writer criticized the Boston Municipal Research Bureau for tending to attack municipal workers and their unions. That we do not support municipal employees is a baseless claim that is not supported by the facts. The mission of the Research Bureau is to promote more efficient and responsible government in Boston and to protect the city's fiscal health. Because reform measures for city departments often can only be achieved in collective bargaining contracts with employee unions, we occasionally will be involved in advocating service improvements and policy changes during negotiations. Usually, the bureau will support reform measures at an affordable cost that seek more at less expense than union leadership is demanding. That is the current situation with the Boston teachers' contract negotiations, as the bureau is advocating for systemic reforms that will truly improve student achievement and support teachers through an improved teacher-evaluation system.

The Research Bureau works daily with city and school employees and knows full well the dedication and hard work performed by most city employees every day. That is why, for the past 26 years, the Research Bureau each October has honored selected city employees for their extraordinary service to the citizens of Boston by awarding them the Henry L. Shattuck Public Service Award.

Samuel R. Tyler
President, Boston Municipal Research Bureau

CORRECTIONS
Some photos in our "Senior Moment" story on Occupy Cape Cod (News and Features, April 6) were incorrectly credited. They were taken by Paul Rifkin. Also, in that story, Diane Turco was listed as being a member of Occupy Falmouth. She is involved with Occupy Hyannis.