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Teacher acted inappropriately

The school superintendent is right in this situation of the suicidal teacher, she just went about it all wrong. It is not a moral or ethical issue, it is a professional issue. I agree this teacher needs help, but teachers have to be an example to their students. The fact that this teacher did what she did in front of very impressionable young minds is the issue.

She may be sick and need help, however, in her position, she could have hurt several young people by her actions. This is no different that the teacher who has an affair with a student. It is totally inappropriate! We need to remember that they are still children that a teacher is molding and can affect those students for the rest of their lives. As a parent, if my child were in her class and she did this, I would demand the superintendent let her go.

She needs help, I agree, just not at the expense of our children. As far as Mrs. Fiorentino getting re-elected, I must say she has been a great disappointment to me, and she needs to wake up and do what she promised she would do. If not, we'll vote her out of office the same way we voted her into office. She obviously forgot how she got her job.

- James Michaud, Hudson

Statements based only on emotions

I find it interesting that a letter writer feels that "some people are naive about mental illnesses" and "that firing her (Ms. Withers) would probably lower her self-esteem, increase her depression and make her even more suicidal."

Another letter states, "Clearly, medical science has deemed depression as a medical condition that can be treated both by medication and therapy." The first statement is without merit and the second is factual, but neither has any bearing on why the students and taxpayers of Pasco County have any responsibility in the treatment of Ms. Withers' alleged condition, whether via medication, therapy, or both.

These statements also do not reflect any reason why students should be exposed to an educator attempting to end her life in an environment expected to be free from violence.

The letter also states that "Pasco County, in general, is extremely prejudiced against the mentally ill." Really? Please feel free to justify this remark at any time. This is ludicrous and wholly without basis in fact. How can you expect to be taken seriously when you make ridiculous blanket statements based solely on emotion?

- Charles Bruscell, Spring Hill

Light needed at mall entrance

Let the concerned people of Beacon Woods put their efforts into having the traffic light reinstalled on U.S. 19 at the mall entrance, which was part of the original plans when the mall was originally built.

This would solve a lot of these meetings and discussions. The light was not too close to Beacon Woods Drive then, so it shouldn't be too close now. You need a light there.

- Patricia Miller, Hudson

Negative article was misleading

Democrats optimistic after scandal, Oct. 23

I am a volunteer at the offices of the Democratic Executive Committee and as a volunteer, I want your paper to know that the article was very misleading. He mentioned our optimism in the headline but the meat of the article reflected us as wishy-washy and disorganized.

Don't the Republicans wish?

We in the DEC volunteer group are extremely enthusiastic this year about taking our country back. When the reporter interviewed me, his question was, what makes this year different from any other election year, as I talk to individuals on the phone?

I told him "the passion" and the plea to "please take our country back." Perhaps he felt this information was not newsworthy, or maybe he's a Republican sent out to report on what Democrats are doing and conveniently omitted this observation because it would make us sound fortified and strong.

He also mentioned our little house on State Road 54, in New Port Richey, which serves as our only campaign headquarters in Pasco County but that the Republicans had four to cover the same area.

We Democrats are certainly not lavish. Yes, it is true, we do not have the exorbitant funds of the Republicans but we are not indebted to big lobbyists, we can run an honest campaign without distributing or mailing trash against our opponents, and we don't laugh behind the backs of the very groups who put us in office.

- Gerri Presley, New Port Richey

Police should patrol roads

Careless driving is cause of wrecks, Oct. 23

It's more than careless drivers. It's really about rude selfishness and total disrespect.

People today are selfish. They deem them their needs not anyone else's .They're disrespectful, not only on the roads, but in line at the store or wherever.

The police don't patrol the roads anymore. If they did, and handed out tickets with stiff fines that would change some drivers! It's funny how people drive normally when a cop car is in sight.

Maybe I'll buy a big black Crown Victoria with deep tinted windows. That might slow them down and gain respect at the same time.

Forget about Sheriff White's Tahoe. They need a lot more than what that cost to get more cars and officers on the road to stop the raging, selfish people of today!

- Bill Durnell, Holiday

Lack of respect for seniors

On Oct. 5, my husband and I stopped at the 7-Eleven station on Little Road and State Road 54 in Trinity about 12:30 p.m. He pulled up to gas pump and decided to stay where he was instead of pulling up to the one in front. Meanwhile, a young woman, I'd say in her 30s, thought my husband should have pulled up and started to honk and yell at him.

As she pulled around us she rolled down her window and started to call my husband a vulgar name in front of the whole gas station. As she went around to another pump she continued to call him a vulgar name and an old man. My husband went about his business of pumping gas.

Some guys were standing on the corner and asked her if she needed help. She said, "No, thank you gentlemen. I took care of the problem myself."

As I sat there watching this awful young woman, I thought to myself, she called these guys standing by their motorcycles gentlemen and my 70-year-old husband a vulgar name several times.

I hope this awful young woman's father or grandfather doesn't have to have this experience happen to them.

When did it became acceptable in this society to berate and humiliate a senior citizen? Are we being disrespected because our hair is turning white and we are a little slower than we used to be?

When we all moved to Florida, after raising our children and working hard all our lives, we looked forward to some enjoyable days. Or has it come down to being called a vulgar name a public place?

- Judy Steele, Zephyrhills

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[Last modified October 30, 2006, 09:02:51]