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© St. Petersburg Times, published January 31, 2003
Re: Why is Bush mad at Pasco? Jan. 26 letter
Editor: While I agree with the letter writer that Pasco can't afford to lose the money he is taking from us, I do not agree with the solution.
Morning and afternoon school sessions do not work. Unless you have been the student who has been through them, don't suggest them.
As a longtime resident of the Pasco County School District, I have been through both 45/15 and morning and afternoon sessions. And believe me, they both are terrible. When I was on the 45/15 at Gulf Junior High, it was difficult for my mom to get time off or to find someone to check in on me. And as for schoolwork, by the time you went back to school after 15 days off, it took a good week to get back into the swing of things. And since the classes overlapped, kids in the same grade were learning different levels. I also think that it cost the county more money in the long run, because the kids were going to school in the hottest part of the year and the cost of the electricity, not to mention the teachers pay, came out to more money.
As for morning and afternoon sessions, I did that at Gulf while Hudson schools were being built. This is worse. Not only did I have to be at the bus stop at 5:30 in the morning (do you think that in this day and age that is good for our children?), we were so tired that we could not pay attention to the teachers and half of us were asleep at our desks.
I was an A and B honor roll student, but that year my grades fell to C's and D's. Getting off early was great, but you usually had to take a nap when you got home, then you were awake into the night, only to finally fall asleep and get a couple of hours of sleep. My doctor said it was messing up my metabolism. Those parents who had young children going to the afternoon session had to work out special arrangements with their work or their babysitters.
If you think that these are clear-cut solutions, take some time to volunteer at your local schools to help mentor a student or become a teacher's helper. Take time to talk to the teachers to see if these are solutions they want. Chances are, they are not. (I am in the medical profession, not in the school system).
If you want to help your schools, those of you who have some free time on your hands should volunteer. There are all kinds of areas that you can help out in. That would help out where they are short staffed, understaffed or not staffed at all because of the low budget they have to work with.
-- Leslie Todd, Holiday
Editor: Commissioner Ann Hildebrand complained about not having enough money for the school system. It is my understanding that the commissioners are finding money for parks and libraries. Why don't they use that money for the school system?
Also, the Juvenile Detention Center can be solved by not paying the rich landowners our tax money for parks.
-- Ernest E. Bedford, New Port Richey
Editor: What an astounding academic achievement: "Craziest Bucs Fan." I'll bet Grandma is so proud! And we know it's an academic achievement because the principal allowed students who wore Bucs gear to skip their classes, and we all know his priority is education, right?
It's no wonder our governor and his cronies feel entitled to siphon funds from education and that our schools are ranked as low as they are, when the administration's priorities are clear.
Of course, the St. Petersburg Times must bear some of the blame; how often does a student make the front page for a real academic achievement?
No wonder (non-fan) teachers are leaving the state in droves, when the administration makes it clear that football is the priority.
-- Brent Yaciw, Wesley Chapel
Editor: From July 2002 to January 2003, Time Warner Cable Co. has increased the price of its "preferred value" cable package from $38.21 to $44.94. This increase of just under 18 percent for six months far exceeds the Consumer Price Index for the nation and is only enjoyed by increases that corrupt CEOs grant themselves.
Certainly the customers of Time Warner are not benefiting by now being able to see movies made before most people in Pasco County were born.
Who will rally to oppose this corporate avarice?
-- Matthew A. Biss, Port Richey
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