Letters to the Editors

Smaller classes won't solve root problems

Re: Class size amendment.

I have read with interest most of the letters touting the pros and cons of the class size amendment. It seems to me that some people are really missing the boat.

Despite what anyone wants to believe, decreasing the size of classes is not going to fix what is wrong with the public school system. When our first child was born in 1982, my husband and I took advantage of an opportunity to go to a seminar on how to help your child succeed in school.

The message the seminar gave was this: You, as the parent, are ultimately responsible for how your child performs in school. That is, it is your responsibility as a parent to send your children to school ready to learn. It is your responsibility as a parent to make sure your children understand that school is their first priority. It is your responsibility as a parent to make sure that your children do their homework to reinforce the lessons they are taught at school.

What does that mean? That means that we send them to school on time, well-rested and well-fed, with the understanding that they are to listen, be respectful, learn and do their work. What does this mean for the teachers? A class full of children who are ready to be taught and with minimal discipline problems. What teacher wouldn't love this scenario? Many years ago, my average elementary class was more than 30 kids, and guess what? We all graduated knowing our three R's. But our parents were much more strict back then, and teachers were afforded the respect they deserved.

It seems that the biggest gripe teachers have with larger classes is that they spend so much time on discipline. Or that they have a few kids not "getting it" who need extra time that the teacher cannot possibly give when classes are so large. I agree that whatever is necessary should be spent to give children who need extra help a fighting chance. But do we really want to finance smaller classrooms to decrease the incidence of discipline problems?

We need more classrooms, that much is evident. Also evident is the fact that our teachers could stand a decent raise. And probably most important, we need more supplies and books. These things are worth paying for. But to ask the public to shoulder heftier homeowner taxes for smaller classes when it is not going to fix what the real root of the problem is? I don't think my neighbors are really willing to pay $600 more per year in taxes so teachers have fewer children to discipline.
-- Denise Byrn, Safety Harbor

Take a more innovative approach

Smaller classes are not going to solve the gap in education for minority students. What you get with smaller classes is more of the same. More and more, students with special needs are being left behind.

Moreover, teachers should be encouraged to be more innovative in the classrooms to meet the needs of all students by doing such things as designing study groups within classes and having the more academically astute students assist those who are not. Have the students build a relationship with each other that would foster a positive learning environment. This kind of approach would be more student inclusive and would give each student a feeling of accomplishment. Besides, it helps to build strong personal relationships within the community, something we really can use more of. Hopefully, no student will be left out and each of them will grow to have a deeper respect for the educational system.
-- Willie Foster, St. Petersburg

Is it worth the cost?

Re: Class size initiative.

Sen. Kendrick Meek, D-Miami, and those who support this issue should also inform Floridians that the cost of reducing class size is from $8-billion to more than $20-billion over eight years. How are we going to find the funding?

Gov. Bush's honest attempt to put a price tag on two education initiatives on the ballot in November, ruled as unconstitutional by the Florida Supreme Court, shows clearly that we Floridians should not vote on these issues without understanding the cost and its impact on the budget. This is a devastating proposal, and the state could afford it only by taking money from other needs, including teacher salaries and teacher training.

Sen. Meek has no magic pill, and I ask him to be more honest and invite education experts to inform Floridians about its impact. It's fair to ask: Is it worth the cost?
-- Ahmed Kabani, Miami

Whose pockets are heavy?

Ever play Lotto? Read the sign that states $11-billion toward education? Really? Where? New schools being built? The hiring of new teachers to reduce class size? No!

But, hey, let's tax the smokers. That'll solve the problem. Please. Whose pocket is heavy with $11-billion?

If all this money is out there, why does my kindergartener get on an overcrowded, hot, sticky, sweaty, un-air-conditioned bus every day to take a 45-minute trip to an overcrowded classroom?

If Bush and McBride want solutions, I, like most parents have some answers. Too bad neither wants to really solve the problems.
-- K. Malik, Spring Hill

Not 'cops and robbers'

Re: Childhoods revisited, letter, Sept. 20.

I would like to respond to this letter writer's comments regarding the Sun City Center Security Patrol. We are sure we keep our neighborhood a much safer place. All you need to hear are the glowing terms that the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office bestows on us.

We are not concerned about children clucking their tongues and thinking we are "slipping." We "slip" right to the address these same children call us about to check on their parents or grandparents, and we receive donations and letters of "thanks" from many of these children.

This is a volunteer group. We also have an all-volunteer emergency squad, volunteers at the hospital, volunteers to help the children in the local schools, and the local fire department was started as an all-volunteer team. We are givers.

We don't consider ourselves elitist, bored, well-off retirees in an isolated community. We find our neighbors to be warm, talented, giving and caring. We support many local charities with our time, money and talent. We worked hard to get to this point.

I would welcome anyone to watch our operation and see what an asset we are to our community. We don't play "cops and robbers." We take good care of our neighbors and their needs.
-- Martha Finley, president of the board, Sun City Center Security Patrol Inc., Sun City Center

Headline rejection

Re: Older workers reject retiring, Sept. 23.

Our binary age has infected cable news commentators; i.e., things are either right or wrong. Gray has become extinct. I can live with their incessant need to seem more informed and important than they are. After all, what types of people sit and watch two or more individuals holding conclusions for which they seek -- or willingly create -- evidence?

Fortunately, we have newspapers, our last resort for calm, balanced reporting, with the exception of headline writers. I remember being thumped to create eye-catching headlines, but there was a condition: They were supposed to fit the story.

I was shocked to read Older workers reject retiring.

As an older worker, I was alarmed. I live in constant fear of rejection. What if I had a heart transplant that my body rejected? What of all the letters to the editor that are rejected? What of my first love, who rejected me by stabbing me in the leg with a pencil? Rejection is anathema to us older folks.

On reading the story, however, I learned your headline writer needs a dictionary.

"Older workers rethink retiring" is more correct and causes less frenzy.
-- Gordon Hill, St. Petersburg

An issue to be overcome

Re: NAACP chief files for bankruptcy, Sept. 19.

This article on NAACP president Darryl Rouson shows the human spirit at work, where a man can battle back from drugs and alcohol to lead an exemplary life. Darryl Rouson is to be congratulated for overcoming the demons within him.

The article concluded in an interesting way -- Rouson mentioning the lack of African-American representation on the board of directors of the St. Petersburg Times.

Diversity is the wave of the future; the Times apparently is not on the train moving ahead. This is unfortunate, for I am sure there are plenty of qualified African-American newspaper people around the country, qualified and willing to serve. It is time to overcome this issue.
-- Herb Snitzer, St Petersburg

Times should make this announcement

Re: Two grooms and many opinions, Sept. 21.

The St. Petersburg Times' decision not to publish same-sex union announcements is wrong. The reasoning given by president and editor Paul Tash for this decision is flawed. He says the newspaper does not publish these announcements because they are not recognized by civil authority. This shows a tremendous lack of leadership on the part of what is supposed to be one of the country's leading newspapers.

How often does the St. Petersburg Times check marriage licenses of those heterosexuals whose announcements it does publish? I suspect the answer is never. For that matter, what civil authority is required to become heterosexually engaged to be married? Yet those notices are published. I dare say that neither the quality nor the sincerity of a relationship has ever been a consideration before publishing these announcements.

I read the St. Petersburg Times each day. I consider, unless I happen to know the couple personally, the notices of heterosexual engagements and weddings to be a waste of newspaper space. Yet those announcements obviously mean a great deal to the couples and the families involved. If the St. Petersburg Times were truly interested in maintaining some sort of standard for same-sex union announcements, this could be easily done. The newspaper could simply require identification of the individuals performing the ceremonies. In Florida, notaries and those certified by religious denominations are able to perform heterosexual marriages. Logic -- however, not state law -- says those same people should be able to perform same-sex unions. The newspaper could simply require that same-sex couples in filing their announcements include the names of authorized individuals who performed the ceremonies.

Same-sex unions are not recognized by law in New York, Washington, Philadelphia, Miami or Chicago. Yet newspapers serving these cities have found ways to announce ceremonies proclaiming them. It's time the St. Petersburg Times caught up.
-- Rev. Andy Sidden, Land O'Lakes

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