Re: Arrests at Clearwater High nearly double, story, Nov. 18.
As members of the Clearwater High School teaching staff, we were very surprised by your article about arrests at our school.
We were not surprised that these arrests have taken place. Thankfully, our administration and resource officer are making a sincere effort to be in tune with the students and be proactive. They are not tolerating gross misbehavior, drugs, weapons or trespassing. The other options would be to pretend the problems don't exist or to ignore them.
It's surprising the Times would choose to be so insensitive in its reporting to single out one school without investigating all the high schools, at least in the northern part of the county. Common sense tells you these problems exist everywhere (many of the county schools have a second resource officer and all of them call in extra help as needed). The only question is how these problems are being dealt with. We believe they are dealt with in the best possible way at our school, and we feel strongly our students would agree.
Perhaps most surprising is that a police chief would be alarmed by crime at a high school. Whatever is going on in society filters into the high schools. As society's challenges increase, so do those of the schools.
While we realize the article had a particular focus, we feel what could have been presented as a positive was spun negatively. We feel the article itself was a negative reflection of our school and all of us connected to it, and that this is not deserved.
We welcome the reporter back to report on all the great things about our school, which have kept many of us here a long time with no desire to go elsewhere. We have a great school where steps are taken to ensure everyone has a safe learning environment, and we all strive to make things better all the time. Our principal and administration enjoy 100 percent support from the Principal's Advisory Council, the PTSA, and us. Since the article was printed, we understand our principal has received nothing but positive contacts from parents, students and the community.
-- Members of the Clearwater High School teaching staff
Downplay your emphasis on the bad
Re: Arrests at Clearwater High nearly double, story, Nov. 18.
Your article on Clearwater High left much to be desired. I just attended their play and every student was well-behaved and polite at all times. Having a German exchange student and grandchildren attending this school, I have had positive feedback. There are more than 2,000 students at this school and those who were arrested are few. The resource officers are exceptional and well-respected by the students.
Take some time to write some front-page articles on the students who continually strive to maintain their grades, work and support their school and community. Your newspaper puts way too much emphasis on the "bad students." How about an article a day (on the front page) about a student achievement or goal? That would be the first article I read every day. How about a headline Clearwater High class play receives raves - and it should have.
I know we have problems, but so do all the other schools. Maybe you should spend a month as a student and get to know the good and bad firsthand.
I just took three boys from Clearwater High to play paintball for a day (I'm 71) and their manners and concern during the game and throughout the day tell me that we have parents who care. I had a wonderful day.
-- Marlene Bedford, Clearwater
Writer favored bashing over blessings
I enjoyed reading the letters from your readers relating what they are thankful for this Thanksgiving. The letters were heartfelt and sincere - until I got to the letter from JoAnn Lee Frank. After reading her letter, I felt sorry for her. This poor woman could find nothing to be thankful for except her right to climb on a political soapbox and lash out at our present administration. What a dismal life she must lead!
Perhaps she does not realize how truly blessed she is to be able to enjoy the freedom and benefits of living in this great country . . . at the expense of our military men and women presently fighting to preserve these blessings and all the brave servicemen and women who fought and died in every generation since our great country was founded.
Freedom has never been cheap. Only criticism and cheap shots from misguided souls like Ms. Frank are cheap.
-- Neva Wise, Tarpon Springs
Still thankful, despite outburst
It was fitting that the Times asked readers write what they are thankful for this year. I enjoyed reading the various responses, particularly one from the immigrant who has called America home for the past 40 years. It always amazes me how much those who come here from other lands love this country. Is it because they have seen and lived life without freedom and opportunity? I would like to see a column or two on that subject.
It is sad that some saw fit to use an expression of thanks to make a political statement, as if a member of one political ilk is somehow more able to lead the country. I am thankful that even these individuals have the right to spoil the moment. It IS what we call freedom, and thanks to many brave men and women of our armed forces, millions of others a world away are experiencing it for the first time.
-- Dennis G. Roper, Clearwater
Plight of mobile home owners ignored
Re: Mobile homes to make way for new wholesale store, story, Nov. 20.
Your article was clear and concise but somehow you managed to leave out the human factor! Were the 25 homeowners retirees or a variety of ages? What happened to them? Were they just told to leave? Did the county protect the homeowners? This is an older park, so I assume the residents formed many friendships and they hated being torn apart.
Somebody - and who better than the Times? - should be looking out for those who are driven from their homes by the county and by most all of our Pinellas County cities, which have run out of space to erect new and expensive housing that brings greater profits in the form of higher taxes.
We have hundreds of parks in Pinellas that are looked upon by all local governments as "trailer parks." The citizens of these fine homes (as mine is) are thought of as not important enough to be allowed to live on land that can bring more money as land for condominiums or wholesale stores.
Nobody is looking out for the elderly in mobile homes. Mine is 30 feet wide and 60 feet long and should stand for another 25 years. Moving a home like mine to another park would cost on the average $6,000 plus! And where would you move? We are running out of space also.
Something has to be done to protect the homeowners from the tax-hungry county and its cities. I challenge the Times to get on its "white charger" and fight for the thousands of families that will be affected by the drive to eliminate mobile home parks for their land. Nobody else seems to be rising up and calling foul. At least give us the human part of the story.
-- James W. Jones, Largo
Overgrown foliage blocks water view
Recently, my niece and I went over to Clearwater Beach to dine at one of the lovely restaurants on the south end of the beach. I had not been there for well over six months and was astounded at the growth of the trees on the causeway. It used to be you could see the bay. Now, everything is so thick.
The plantings in the middle of the road are lovely, but no water to see. What on earth happened?
-- B.J. Southard, Clearwater
Your voice counts
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