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Todays Letters: Many stepping up for 'good' changes

Re: North Greenwood is everyone's concern editorial, Dec. 12

Many of us - pastors, parishioners, community organizations and concerned citizens - have stepped up and out from behind our pulpits, congregational walls, offices and living rooms determined to help make a difference in our community and are being successful.

"The police are not going to solve this by themselves," Clearwater police Chief Sid Klein is quoted as saying. They aren't expected to. The church, contrary to what might be popular opinion, is not only willing to be in this fight, but has been from the very beginning.

Pointing the finger is a waste of precious time. It creates hostility and distrust while challenging those with the passion for "good" change to remain faithful to the cause. It is not saving lives or building bright futures.

Abuse, addiction, crime, drugs, homelessness, hunger, poor education, sickness, corruption and hypocritical disposition, etc. - it is ugly, no matter where it lives. Like most issues, if not all, understanding comes in its fullest when experienced.

Thank you, Clearwater Mayor Frank Hibbard and staff, for aggressively demonstrating your intent to assist the North Greenwood community with its special needs while tending to others.

Thank you to the current organizations and programs within and without the North Greenwood community, which extends farther than three or four blocks, that project positive opportunities and spiritual change.

Anita D. Davis,Clearwater

Re: Backup plan needed if parking deal dissolves Diane Steinle column, Dec. 9

Parking on beach? Don't hold breath

Of course there is no parking on Clearwater Beach! There will be no parking in the future. The big hotels that bought the beach do not want the local no-money people cluttering their beach. If you cannot afford to stay in their palace, stay off their beach.

If you don't believe this, look at the beach across the bridge and try to use that beach that was open to the public not long ago.

Which City Council members got what, I wonder?

Charles Van Dette, Safety Harbor

Re: Learn more about SPC dual enrollment story,Dec. 13

Dual enrollment can have pitfalls

When you spread the news about this particular program, you need to warn people to be very careful.

Indeed, they really do need to learn more about it, but what they need to learn is that many of the counselors at both the high schools and the college are incompetent bureaucrats and do not set the program up properly. As a result, participation in the program can be very damaging to the student. It can actually get them kicked out of school.

Three years ago, my daughter was an honor student at Osceola High School. She applied and was accepted into the dual enrollment program. She followed the advice of her counselors at both schools in setting up her schedule. At first, everything went well. However, in the middle of her senior year at Osceola, the college told her she had a problem. She had been registered for the wrong class and she was being dropped from the class.

The high school counselor took no responsibility for getting it set up incorrectly. In fact, they told her it was then a problem because without the college class, she was enrolled improperly at the high school. Because class assignment dates had passed, she could not enroll in any other high school classes. Since she was in violation of "enrollment policy," she was "administratively disenrolled" from public high school. In other words, they kicked her out of school because of their own incompetence and a bureaucratic inability to correct the problem.

Before the media pushes this program very much, they need to investigate how well it really works. Pinellas County schools have a habit of using a lot of smoke and mirrors to cover up their problems. They hype up programs like this to sound real trendy, but the fact is they screw it up regularly and harm the students more than help them.

And you won't find much in the way of statistics on their failures. Bureaucratically, anybody who leaves school before graduation is classified as a dropout. It is no wonder that Pinellas County schools have one of the worst dropout rates in the nation. My daughter didn't drop out, she was kicked out. She immediately got her GED and got on with her life, but she missed out on graduation and the prom. And, of course, she no longer qualified for Bright Futures Scholarship money.

And you wonder why so many kids just don't give a damn anymore!

Robert Davis, Seminole

Firefighters help brighten season

I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to our Tarpon Springs Fire Department. I know you took a lot of time and effort to decorate the fire engine with many lights and music and drove through the streets of Tarpon Springs on several nights to bring us cheers and smiles, with Santa and Ms. Claus sitting on top dodging the tree limbs, and at times stopping when there were children for one of your elves to get out and speak to.

Thank you, and merry Christmas Tarpon Springs firefighters.

Linda G. Williams, Tarpon Springs

Your voice counts

You may submit a letter to the editor for possible publication through our Web site at www.tampabay.com/letters, or by faxing it to (727) 445-4119, or by mailing it to Letters, 710 Court St., Clearwater, FL 33756. You must include your name, address and phone number. Letters may be edited for clarity, taste and length.

[Last modified December 17, 2007, 20:57:06]