Perspective

Today's Letters: Law enforcement is too involved in our schools

In class or custody Jan. 20, story   

I was in complete disbelief while reading this story.

I attended school in Pinellas County when I was young. We got our punishment on the spot. Or more precisely on the behind. The fact that we have such full-blown police involvement in our children's educational experiences is shocking and, quite frankly, scary. When I pass these facilities during my day, I think of how they looked then and the way they resemble near prisons today. And this is where we send our kids to learn. Our world has become a demented and perverse place.

I understand that sometimes incidents may occur that require different strategies. But a couple of kids grabbing lunch money and candy is considered felony robbery? The felony should be against the moronic policies that have evolved into this out-of-control behavior by the people we entrust our children to every day. I don't suggest punishing the people who have to deal with these policies to do their jobs. But the powers that be need to take a look at what is being done and what could be done to reasonably resolve these issues outside of law enforcement, court hearings and permanent records following these kids forever.

Miranda rights, police interrogations, felony charges, all over a piece of candy and lunch money. I would question whether anyone involved in this scenario has any business being involved in the education of children. All one has to do to see if our behaviors as adults are having any positive effects on the next generation is to read the paper or watch the evening news. The answer is unquestionably, no.

Jason LaCroix, St. Petersburg  

Here's a little identity check for DemocratsJan. 20, Robyn Blumner column

Remember the other sideof reproductive freedom

Robyn Blumner is always thought-provoking. I wholeheartedly agree that the recognition of the human dignity of women should be the highest priority for our society.

I am wondering if Blumner includes freedom to reproduce within the framework of reproductive freedom. In my experience in the United States and Europe, society tends to regard the reproductive ability of a woman as a burden.

In my 40-year experience as a physician, many more women had been pressured to seek an abortion against their will, than have elected to have one of their free choice. And of course, denial of the freedom to reproduce is the fundament of all enterprises exploiting women's bodies, including the brothels in Nevada and the illegal sweatshops that fuel the underground economy throughout the country.

I hope Robyn Blumner will agree with me that it is lopsided to see reproductive freedom only in terms of preventing reproduction!

Lodovico Balducci, Tampa

Gender bias

I find it very objectionable that the St. Petersburg Times has repeatedly published material about Hillary Clinton which is clearly gender-biased. One example is a recent Pat Oliphant cartoon that depicts Hillary as a whiny little school girl. Another example is the editorial relative to the recent Barack Obama TV ads in Florida, headlined Clinton's childish charge, which ends with the words "Boo hoo. Barack Obama is not playing fair."

The clear intent of both examples is to portray Hillary as childish and weak because of her gender. Your newspaper should stop publishing gender-biased material. It is as unfair and untrue as racial or religiously biased material.

Donald Jaffe, St. Pete Beach

Mike Huckabee vs. the tax man Jan. 20

The rest of the tax equation

Three Perspective section writers were allowed to completely mislead Times readers about Mike Huckabee's "fair tax" plan.

To make it sound as though it would be a 23 percent sales tax on top of the prices we all normally pay is wrong. If we eliminate income and employment taxes that all U.S. businesses pay, competition will force prices to decline. Couple that with employees receiving their gross pay, instead of net after federal taxes, and you cover all or most of the 23 percent tax imbedded in the prices of all products and services.

There would be no impossible IRS, no tax breaks, no tax evaders - just a commonsense, simple way to collect taxes .

Edward Jackson, Tarpon Springs

Seven years to the day Jan. 20, Perspective cover

A troubling path

Kudos to the Times for a wonderfully concise comparison as to the "state of our nation" from 2001 to 2008. The diversity of categories compared was especially informative.

For me, the most striking comparison that speaks directly to the state of our economy and its apparent direction is that of costs versus income. As the numbers show, the cost of two of the most important items relative to our economy (fuel and housing) have doubled over the past seven years. That's compared to an increase in median household income of only about 10 percent.

It doesn't take a mathematical genius to see where we are heading. It will, however, take courageous leadership and a whole lot more honesty from our leadership to correct our current path. Let us not use the fear of cutting essential services; let us first use the courage it will take to cut nonessential and wasteful expenditures.

Norm Roche, Clearwater

Too many unruly students

First, let me say that I agree with the premise of the article. Children should have proper representation and protection when they are questioned, either as a suspect or witness to a crime, whether in school or anywhere else for that matter.

That being said, what really concerns me is that there is such a need for police interaction on the school grounds to begin with. I work closely with the middle schools in our area and witness firsthand how disrespectful some of the students are. This disrespect goes toward teachers, other students, school property and property of others. The attitude and language are beyond belief.

In these cases, the students do not care about the work that needs to be done for themselves or others. Their behavior is completely disruptive and takes much away from the students who are there to be taught and learn.

It is a shame our schools have to be faced with police matters to begin with. As many before me have said, it needs to be addressed from the home first and foremost.

A judge said, "They won't be able to get a job ... go to college. They're screwed for life." Sounds as though they are on that road already, by their own actions.

D. Tanner, Tarpon Springs

[Last modified January 26, 2008, 23:09:52]