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Get the students and staff involved, 1/6

By LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published January 6, 2007

The situation at Gibbs High School in St. Petersburg has attracted recent attention. Unfortunately, much of that attention has been focused on who should be blamed. The point should not be to play the blame game but to find constructive solutions to help both staff and students.

I have had the rewarding experience of working in a similar school in Maryland for almost 20 years. During that time we discovered that the cure for troubled a school is not about what someone does to the school; it is about how to involve those who have the most at stake. The staff and students need to be directly involved in the solution.

In 1989, my school had been written off as a disaster by the Middle States Accreditation Board. In 1999, that same board praised the school and its students for their pride, discipline and commitment. This was not accomplished by assigning central office personnel to walk the halls or to give advice.

A team of staff and students was created, which was determined to make students feel they had a role in what happened in the school. Students were trained in team building and problem solving, and then they trained other students. Discussions were held in every homeroom to build a set of rules that made sense to students. County and state regulations were explained in logical manner, which ended much of the resentment that breeds hostility. Many other life-altering programs were developed and implemented. This was not an easy or quick fix, but it is one that worked and will work at Gibbs as long as the school leaders have the time, energy and commitment to make it.

Joyce Smith, retired high school principal, Spring Hill

Try schools within schools

Many African students who are experiencing alienation and hostility at Gibbs and other Pinellas County public schools are successful participants in the International People's Democratic Uhuru Movement's youth development, education, health and physical fitness programs. These students and their families know and trust us, and we value and respect them. We share similar life experiences, and we share a common struggle for freedom and democracy.

Because of the individual and cultural bonds we share with these students and their families, we can educate and nurture them in ways the school district cannot. Therefore, we propose a cooperative partnership with the district. Under our proposal, the district will invite community groups such as InPDUM to create public schools in the community or within existing public schools (i.e., schools within schools) where space is available. Community schools will be held accountable for student performance similar to traditional public schools, but we will hire and fire our employees and control our curriculum and instructional methods. Community schools will set very high expectations for African students so success becomes the norm rather than the exception.

We know many urban school districts limit enrollment in nontraditional public schools, but there should be no limit to the number of African families who can choose community schools. Competition for students between traditional and community schools will benefit everyone and help traditional schools improve.

Recently, St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker called for the School Board to weight student funding according to students' needs and, while we often disagree with Mayor Baker, in this instance we concur. Weighted student funding is part of our community schools proposal.

We call on the School Board and school superintendent to meet with us and other African community leaders to discuss implementing our proposal. African-run community schools will enable public schools to again become trusted institutions in the African community and insure that all African students receive the education they need to be successful adults.

Chimurenga Waller, president, International People's Democratic Uhuru Movement, St. Petersburg

Bad few tarnish the many

It is so unfortunate that because of a "minority" group of incorrigible kids, the "majority" of kids get lumped into the ugly picture. As a parent of a high school student in St. Petersburg, I have had the opportunity to meet friends of my daughter's who go to Gibbs. (Choice has dispersed middle schoolers everywhere.) Of the kids she is friendly with, they are all good kids.

One student is a junior (they have lived next door to us for six years). She's a good kid! Both her parents graduated from Gibbs years ago, and they are good people. This girl has brought home friends we have met. One fellow is on the football team. Again, they are all nice kids and good students.

The kids I have been referring to are a combination of African-Americans and whites, and they come from all over St. Petersburg.

It is sad that this "minority" has caused the "majority" to be lumped together and labeled as attending the worst high school in the county.

At the same time, my daughter's English teacher stands in front of a class teaching, and halfway through the class, has pieces of paper hanging from her hair and other things being thrown at her, along with abusive language. My daughter says she has had to learn to ignore it and pay attention to what is being taught.

My daughter is a good kid, an honor student and already has a full college scholarship. She has had to rise above that "minority" group of children that every school in this county has. Some schools just have a few more than others.

My hat's off to all the teachers at Gibbs High and every other school, as well as the administrators.

Lauren Phillips, St. Petersburg

Crist ought to reconsider use of the death penalty

I understand that our new governor is planning to maintain a moratorium on the death penalty while the method is being investigated.

I urge him to rethink the whole concept of the death penalty. There are many reasons why we should discontinue its use. The states that do not have the death penalty do not have more murders. Executing criminals does not make us safer, nor does it deter others. It is more expensive than keeping criminals in prison for life. And it is certainly not used fairly. Most of the persons who have been executed were poor, undereducated, and badly defended. When was the last time you heard of a rich person on death row?

I know there are people who proclaim "an eye for an eye," that famous phrase from the Hebrew Scriptures. But if they read the full Scriptures they would find that the use of the death penalty was so circumscribed that the way it has been used in Florida would never qualify.

We should certainly have sympathy and concern for the families of the victims. And people speak of justice. What they are really speaking of is vengeance, which only leads to more violence. Ultimately, the death penalty brutalizes us all.

Lucy Fuchs, Brandon

Revenge vs. justice Jan. 1, letter

An effective deterrent

The letter writer asks the question, "Have executions stopped or even slowed acts of murder?"

The answer to the question is "Yes." I may be wrong, but I don't think any executed murderer has ever murdered another person.

A.T. Barnard, Beverly Hills

Executions of murderers

A painless death

Many murder victims suffer excruciating pain. They did not have a choice, and personally I do not care if the murderer suffers any pain during execution. This we do not know for sure since they are already gone.

If you are looking for the most humane way for executions, I can give you the ideal, painless way.

During World War II, I volunteered to fly as an engineer gunner on B-17s. Part of our training was to educate us on the importance of oxygen on high- altitude bombing runs. Four of us were put into a pressure chamber (closely monitored through a window) and theoretically taken up to an altitude of about 25,000 feet. We all had oxygen masks on and played cards. One person would remove his mask and continue to play cards. In a couple of minutes he would be putting his cards any place on the table, becoming very giddy and then suddenly pass out. The others would immediately put his oxygen mask back on and he would come to and have no memory of passing out. We all took turns. It was totally painless. If the mask had not been put back on, the man would have died in approximately another five to seven minutes.

On one mission over Germany we had three men pass out due to lack of oxygen and after they were revived they had no memory of losing consciousness. Remember Payne Stewart, the golfer and the others? Their plane lost its pressurization and flew on automatic pilot until it crashed and all perished. In all commercial planes, if the plane loses pressurization, the masks come down automatically and you need to put the mask on immediately. I can't think of anything more humane than this method. It would be completely painless.

Ralph C. Hampton Sr., Clearwater

Ethics clash with justice in executions Dec. 28, story

Doctors should just say no

If doctors do not want to, and shouldn't, participate in any phase of an execution, then why don't they just refuse? The American Medical Association should enforce the "do-no-harm" clause in the Hippocratic Oath. And the societies of anesthesiologists across the nation ought to specifically deny their members permission to participate, with public censure and banishment from the society as the price for violation of the oath.

Dr. David Varlotta says, "It's a role we're not wanting to be in, but it's kind of being thrust upon us by the legal system. And we have a problem with that."

What does "kind of being thrust upon us" mean? Are the doctors being court-ordered to participate? If not, I have a solution to the doctors' problem. Just say no!

Let the legal system and its supporters stand the wrath of those of us who believe we should lead the world in humanitarianism. Botched executions and DNA have shown how wrong and barbaric executions are, not to mention finances and skin color being factors that weigh heavily on who gets executed. This is not about mercy for the killers or justice for the victims. It's about who and what we are as a people.

It's time for doctors and lawyers to be on the same side of an issue and demand an end to this mayhem we call justice.

Patrick Setford, Port Richey

State of extremes

If the insurance boondoggle continues, only the rich and the homeless will be able to live in Florida.

I received the "new" rate for my 75-year-old home the other day. I was paying $943. Now they want $7,475. No explanation of how this is arrived at.

I've been in this home for 50 years. The way I figure it, the house has withstood 75 years of weather and it will survive 75 more years. Needless to say we will go without. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure why people are heading up north. Someday we will be "on that road" also.

Ed Bittman, St. Petersburg

Tell Tallahassee

I have been reading much about the high insurance costs and taxes in Florida and I must agree. I also heard that there is going to be no stopping all of this. And what makes me mad is the boys and gals in Tallahassee are letting the insurance companies cancel the homeowners coverage of whomever they want. I think it's about time the insurance companies start going after the folks in Tallahassee, who are supposed to be watching out for the people of this state, and start canceling their insurance.

I urge everyone who is having problems with their insurance and the high cost of living to sit down and write or call your so-called representatives up in Tallahassee and let them know how you feel. Tell them that if they don't get on the ball, and do something about the insurance companies controlling them and the state and the high cost of living, that come election time, they will be out of a job! Nothing scares them more. Then vote. Do it!

Lon Cerame, Madeira Beach

10 to watch in 2007 Dec. 31, news feature

How Lohan can you go?

I find it impossible to comprehend that the Times staff voted on having Lindsay Lohan as one of the top 10 to watch in 2007! Are these people who voted the same people who jam up I-75 to a crawl in order to watch the results of a five-car pileup to see if there is any blood or dead bodies?

Did someone from the National Enquirer take your newsroom hostage and force you to watch Herbie the Love Bug until you gave in and voted?

There is so much happening in the world, both good and controversial. Lohan is simply a rich, spoiled girl with a stage mom who got a lucky acting break and only seems to make headlines when she does something stupid. Give me a break.

What's next, a new section of the paper entitled "Paris Hilton and her dog?" I'm embarrassed for you guys and laughed out loud when you wrote, "By watching Lohan we'll learn about the world." You're on another planet!

Edie Emerald-Barsch, St. Petersburg

Jennings gets dealt 2 setbacks Dec. 30, story

Voting problems remain

The recent news article reporting that Christine Jennings has lost her bid to verify voting machine code against source code and to scrutinize the proprietary code for program "bugs" was read with dismay.

While the judge ruled as the law requires, I am not satisfied. The fact is that our touch-screen voting machines have no audit trail, and the "law" claims that the source code secrecy is sacrosanct. There is a gap between input and output as wide and deep as the Grand Canyon.

The advantage of programmed machines is that they are so flexible. The disadvantage is the same. Any programmer can insert a patch to make the machine distort the count on Election Day, and another on any other day, and then erase the patch.

Sarasota County did the right thing. They are replacing the touch screens with optical scan units.

Unless the U.S. House intervenes, the next time this hits the news will be the 2008 presidential election. But at that time I expect the case will go to the U.S. Supreme Court - again.

Computer science experts have never accepted machines that cannot be audited. So why has our secretary of state ignored expert opinion? Why do we?

Bernard Waryas, Dunedin

A tax to help

I have a more humane solution to provide assistance to the homeless as well as help us Florida property owners with our increased homeowners taxes and insurance.

Increase the sales tax by 2 cents on the dollar. Put 1 cent in a special fund for property owners assistance, and the other 1 cent can be marked for assistance for the homeless.

People have to remember one thing about the homeless: There, but for the grace of God, go I.

Those of us who are somewhat affluent have to take the lead in helping those less fortunate than us, helping them to deal with their problems and getting them the medical assistance they may need.

Ronald T. Griffin, St. Petersburg

Welcome tax relief

Florida residents who have saved to purchase investments all must thank our legislators and former Gov. Jeb Bush for the repeal of the state's tax on "intangible" investments. This action is very much appreciated and appropriate.

H.J. Fisler, Oldsmar

Best tax bet Dec. 29, letter

Casinos can contribute

I agree with the letter writer. The casinos and their hotels across the country have created many needed jobs. They provide thousands and thousands of people with employment. These employees pay taxes; the casinos also pay taxes - all adding to the tax structure. As an adult, you make many choices daily. It's your choice. If you don't like casinos, don't patronize them. It's that simple!

The taxes and jobs casinos and their hotels would provide here in Florida could relieve some of the burdens citizens are now trying to deal with. Gambling exists, and it's time the state of Florida takes advantage of it.

Jackie Frogner, Dunedin

Tighten big rig rules Dec. 26, editorial

Lobbyists and truck rules

Your recent editorial was about unsafe trucks on Florida roads and the tragedies that result from them. I am a professional truck driver based in Tampa. I drive a box truck between Tampa and Central Florida. I agree whole-heartedly that something needs to be done about drivers who drive too many hours and lie on their log books.

However, I'm not sure your readers know that Florida law exempts drivers like me from keeping a log book. That is because I drive in less than a 200-mile radius from my terminal.

Why are we exempt? I don't know. Ask the Florida Legislature. I would suspect it has more to do with protecting trucking companies than with keeping the public safe. Can you say lobbyists?

Stephen Lee Goodman, Tampa

Undeserving New Orleans Dec. 30, letter

New Orleans has suffered

Obviously the letter writer has never been to New Orleans and especially in the past year. The federal government is responsible for maintaining the levy system and has not improved it for years. The feds felt that maintaining it for a Category 3 storm was enough. Also, most of the devastated area is very poor and the people do not have the money to rebuild.

I agree that there is corruption, but it has much improved in recent years and if you check other states, you will find that Louisiana is not alone. Florida certainly has some of its own.

By the way, Hurricane Andrew hit Florida in 1992 and Homestead still has not totally recovered as well as other areas of our state from storms in the past two years.

Nancy Long, St. Petersburg

[Last modified January 5, 2007, 22:18:16]