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Conserving water is something we need to do every day

Re: Water restrictions.

I'm not sure I can stand to see one more ounce of valuable energy, print or breathable air expended on the topic of water conservation. We are the "intelligent species" who are bound and determined to cause ourselves irreparable harm and grief through utter stupidity and gluttony. Have we no powers of common sense, conservation or memory since our water woes are virtually a yearly issue?

Let's see: The reclaimed water went dry last week in St. Petersburg. Desalination will occur (hopefully) in the near future. We opened up a long overdue 15-billion-gallon reservoir in Hillsborough with another one to match in planning. There has been no rain and 1,000 people are moving into the state every day.

What don't we get?

As a longtime resident who has seen long-term water restrictions work to our favor - and we all survived - could someone please explain why we do not leave them in place all year long and forgo this ridiculous banter about a resource we must have and protect? Do we have any leaders who will step up, even when its pouring down rain, and say, "We must conserve every day for our future"? We humans, apparently, need to be reminded every day.

Gray Rideout, Treasure Island

Stop whining about your grass

It's a sad day when people are more worried about their lawns than the water we need to live. So you want to have a nice yard. That's nice. But I don't give two flips about the grass. We should care about the one thing all living things need to live - water! Maybe 20 years ago you could use all the reclaimed water you wanted, but by now the population has grown so much that the water usage has grown also.

People should only be allowed to water once a week, for no more than an hour, and should be fined otherwise. And if you water the road or your driveway, you should also be scolded. Have some priorities. Instead of the cosmetics of your yard, favor life in the long run.

And it is only going to get worse as long as they keep building condos on every square inch of unused land they can find. So get used to it. We use more water than we need to, and Mother Nature can hold out a heck of a lot longer than we can.

So have a little sense of control and conservation. Save water, and stop whining about your grass. One thing politicians and lawyers and government can't control is the weather.

Rob Gibson, Dunedin

The construction continues

Re: Water restrictions needed now, editorial, May 7.

Here we go again! Mother Nature has not cooperated with Pinellas County so now residents are being told to cut back on water usage, and cities are implementing water restrictions.

As a lifetime resident of Pinellas, what is the county doing to conserve water? It certainly has not restricted building! I look around and see more homes, high-rise condos and town homes being built, which of course, means more people and more water usage. Pretty soon we won't need water restrictions because there won't be any water left.

Thanks, Pinellas County officials, past and present, for doing your part!

Dan Herzog, Pinellas Park

These ideas don't make the grade

I find it amazing that the tourism industry has such an important say in education matters. Being a junior in high school, I am also amazed at the lack of input we get in issues about our education. With the current start dates, we are able to complete semester exams before winter break. It seems as if the Florida Legislature doesn't mind giving students the undue stress of having to worry about exams over break. And is there really anything wrong with trying to do better on the FCAT? Now I don't know about other students, but I find this idea absolutely ridiculous.

Furthermore, implementing a "majors and minors" program in high school is not very sensible either. I myself have wanted to hold at least four different occupations in high school alone. (As of now, however, I am undecided.) If we are required to have majors and minors, we would be forced to make decisions about our future without having the opportunity to explore other areas. Even college students change their majors several times.

I am not against all of the A + + Plan, just these two ideas. I've been a supporter of Florida education up to now, but this plan gets a C-minus-minus from me.

Savan Shah, Largo

A questionable question

We're going to be asking children in middle school to declare what they will be when they grow up? Are you kidding me? Many of those attending colleges over the past decades don't know what their major is when they begin. But to demand from an 11- or 12- year-old kid the answer to such a question is something only a lawmaker in Florida would think of.

I know our elected officials are out of touch, but when is enough going to be enough? Here we are, the fourth-largest state, and we are ranked 40th in the nation on performance. Asking a child to declare his life's goals is well - why we're 40th in education. It makes perfect sense doesn't it?

Andrew Bolnick, Palm Harbor

Bonus plan has basic flaw

Re: A start on teacher raises, editorial, May 5.

The "Special Teachers Are Rewarded" plan (STAR) is reported by the Times as on its way to being adopted. Rewarding teachers with bonuses based on how well their students perform is, in my opinion, well-intentioned but ill-conceived. And, by the way, I think "Special Teachers" is redundant.

The fundamental flaw, in my opinion, in any plan for teacher bonuses linked to student performance is that it colors the extra money as "commission," which has no place in school. Teaching is not selling. It is a calling, an almost religious vocation to shape the minds of children. (Maybe that's why the teachers are paid what, forgive me, amounts to a stipend.)

The Times continues to promote the basic idea of a bonus plan while pointing out the problems experienced in the genesis and the expected afterlife of this one. That's disappointing. If the editors cannot see the basic flaw in the concept, at least they should realize that the complications in execution could make it act like a lead balloon.

As a substitute teacher for the past eight years, I have witnessed the skill, hard work and dedication of these educators. To propose bonuses based on student improvement is insulting to every one of them. It could imply no student improvement meant the teacher hadn't worked hard enough when, in fact, it could have meant the student probably hadn't.

We should never forget that the relationship between a teacher and a student is not monetary. It is almost mystical. It is priceless.

Jack Bray, Dunedin

At least the pie thing is handled

On behalf of myself and other homeowners dealing with outrageous premiums and no options but Citizens for insurance, I would like to thank the state Legislature for their hard work in declaring key lime pie the official state pie of Florida.

My only hope now is that Gov. Jeb Bush works just as hard approving this bill of statewide importance. Hopefully he too, realizes that key lime pie being declared the official state pie needs to take priority over the fact that thousands of people statewide are getting to the point where they can't afford to insure their homes anymore.

John F. Marretta, Port Richey

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[Last modified May 9, 2006, 07:29:37]