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Letter to the editor

Today's Letters: Segregated schools are not acceptable

By LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published August 15, 2007

Superintendent lists five Pinellas schools for closing Aug. 8, story

Pinellas County school superintendent Clayton Wilcox's neighborhood student-assignment plan is the wrong way to go. Despite the existence of the out-of-zone choice option, the plan would effectively resegregate Pinellas County schools.

This is so because there is little evidence that once given the opportunity to send their kids to a nearby school, black parents would opt - no matter what the reason - to send their kids to a special school in some distant neighborhood.

There seems to be no disagreement that a large majority of Pinellas' black parents favor neighborhood schools. This, however, does not make segregated schools acceptable!

Segregated schools are bad for white and black kids alike.

First of all, it indeed is the responsibility of our public schools to prepare students to get along with people of other races if only because the world is diverse and multiracial. Second, in counties such as Pinellas where the black power structure is not well-developed, "black schools" inevitably will end up with the "short end of the stick" when it comes to resources and the best teachers.

The economic and social factors that led to the Brown vs. Board of Education court ruling ordering the dismantling of state-sponsored segregated schools in 1954 still exist today and would haunt our racially segregated schools even though the segregation is self-imposed.

Howard Feldman, South Pasadena

Superintendent lists five Pinellas schools for closing Aug. 8, story

Why close the A schools?

The School Board's recommendations for school closings run counter to the School Board's consideration of state grades. Two of the schools on the board's list for closing are A schools.

If there are schools that have grades of D and C, why not close them before closing A schools?

Cynthia Fisher, St. Petersburg

The closing of Largo Central Elementary

Our school is like family

I am writing with much concern for the closing of Largo Central Elementary School. I moved to Largo in 1999 from New York (a small community in the suburbs like Largo). This was an easy transition as the community at Largo Central was extremely welcoming.

I now have my children on a special attendance permit for this school. I have been working night shifts, and it has been the families that we have met and grown to love that assist with my children after school.

If this was to be torn down, then the community will be mourning as if it had lost a family member.

This school has assisted with the education of many people in our community, and many enjoy the fact that they can go to Largo Central Elementary, then Largo Middle School and then Largo High.

Please consider the value of a parking lot vs. the value of a strong community-based family school.

It will be so disappointing if future families cannot experience the student-staff-faculty-parent support that is so strong here.

Maureen Minutolo, Largo

Parents rally to save schools story, Aug. 9

Tough but vital decisions

My opinion, after reading this story and others that have appeared in the paper lately, is that parents who object to the proposed school closings are not looking at the big picture. The School Board must make some difficult but vital decisions in the near future.

I disagree with Ron Lindell, a Largo Central Elementary parent, who stated he thought schools were being considered for closure without regard for the children. From what I have read, it seems some schools need to be closed.

Change is always difficult. If the board votes to close some schools, it will be because they are thinking of the future of all our children - the collective rather than the individual. Sometimes this is the best path to take.

The wonderful staff at Largo Central sounds as though it would be an asset at any of our schools. I also believe South Ward Elementary School can and should be preserved, but not necessarily as a school. It has been an underachieving and underenrolled school for some time.

I think Clearwater city leaders should ponder how to include this gem in the downtown redevelopment plan. Clearwater needs a senior citizen center (the last one was closed and torn down). Perhaps South Ward could be better used.

In the coming weeks and months, I hope we all keep an open mind and focus on what is best for the future of all our children.

Lorelei Keif, Clearwater

Keep patrolling preserves

I am a resident of Pinellas County and enjoy the preserves and natural areas we have here. Over the years, my family has enjoyed the Pinellas County preserves, and we appreciate the safety the county has provided within those spaces.

Now there's the news that the sheriff's environmental lands unit, which patrols our preserves, is being drastically reduced. I feel this is the beginning of the falling apart of any current or future environmental management plan we may have.

Without necessary enforcement of the established rules and laws, these preserves will become unsafe for visitors and destroyed by those who don't respect the treasures we have here.

The county commissioners should reject any reduction in this environmental lands unit. Surely the county should be able to manage budget cuts without jeopardizing the safety of its citizens.

Dave Howard, Gulfport

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[Last modified August 14, 2007, 22:37:58]