Re: State agency to decide on two teacher firing cases
When I read about Michael Ellison, I was shocked. Not at the fact about the gun was found but the fact he may lose his job over it.
Mr. Ellison made a mistake. The time, effort and love he has put into Hernando County schools shouldn't be thrown down the drain because of a mistake. Who doesn't make them?
What about the thousands of kids this man has helped? He has never been just a teacher to his students, but he has been a friend. Someone you could always talk to, who looked at your point of view. Mr. Ellison is just a country boy who made a mistake and is deeply sorry about it. Why should he lose his job and why should our future generation lose out on the experience of having him as a teacher?
This man can make learning fun and exciting in ways others only dream about. I have friends and family who have been turned around because they entered his classroom.
Thankfully no one was hurt. However, I feel it will be a big mistake and people will get hurt if we stop one of Hernando County's greatest teachers from doing a job he loves. How many teachers look forward to work on Monday mornings? How many teachers truly care about their students and whose job is more than just a paycheck?
Mr. Ellison is a great asset to our community and our school system. Please don't let a mistake take that away.
-- Beth Terrell-Enders, Homosassa
Time at meeting well spent for high school students
In late September, Dave Pisarcik and I, teachers at Nature Coast Technical High School, began preparing our students for an upcoming field trip to see county government in action. We discussed with our students the purposes of the Metropolitan Planning Organization and the Transportation Disadvantaged Planning Committee. Among other issues, the students learned that if you have no car, no ride, no driver's license, or you can't drive for health or other reasons, you are considered transportation disadvantaged. No one likes to be considered disadvantaged, especially adolescents who are reaching out for independence.
On Oct. 19, we and many of our students joined staff and students from two other high schools to attend a meeting of the Transportation Disadvantaged Local Coordinating Board. We offer our thanks to Hernando County Commissioner Hannah "Nancy" Robinson and all the members of the board for the privilege of attending the meeting. The two hours were well spent.
-- Milena Mathes, Dave Pisarcik, Nature Coast Technical High School
EDITOR'S NOTE: The following letters were submitted by students who participated in the field trip referenced in the preceding letter.
Bus service should be expanded in time, area
I attended a meeting at the courthouse Oct. 19. We discussed the matter of the public bus system and how it runs only five days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
As we were on the topic, we discussed how the bus runs only in populated areas. What about people who live in areas of the county where the bus doesn't go very often? I feel it should run on weekdays and weekends. It should run until 9 or 9:30 p.m. for the people who have to work longer hours so they have a ride home.
I might never ride the bus, but think about the teens and adults who are disabled or who can't get a driver's license. They need the bus.
-- Ashley Morse, Brooksville
Some people need bus service seven days a week
I think THE Bus should run through the less-populated areas of the county and should be available on weekends so people can go where they need to.
I think 6 a.m. to midnight seven days a week would help most people.
-- Tim Smith, Brooksville
Bus benefits those with transportation difficulties
There are good things and bad things about THE Bus. The public bus is good because people with disabilities can use it. And it's not just for those with disabilities. People who can't drive for all kinds of reasons can use the bus.
Five days a week is not enough. I think the bus should run seven days a week and go farther than it does to other places that need the bus.
-- Kevin Matzel, Brooksville
More buses, more routes would equal more riders
I have thought about what has been said about THE Bus. I think it is a good idea to have the buses run longer hours.
Some buses need to go to different places. There are people who are disabled or for other reasons need the bus to go to work and to other places in the community. The buses should run on weekends because some people work on the weekends.
We should have more buses because then people would be using them to get to more places each week.
-- Nicholle Frasier, Brooksville
Bus service schedules should run later into nights
I think it's a really good idea to have the public buses run longer hours and for the buses to run on weekends, too.
I think the hours should be from 6:30 or 7 a.m. until 11:30 p.m. because some adults and teens work very late and have no other way to get to work and back. I also think THE Bus should have more stops and that the bus should travel to more places in the county.
-- Stephanie Allison, Brooksville
[Last modified November 18, 2005, 09:42:56]
