Letters to the Editors

Schools must concentrate on the basics

© St. Petersburg Times, published April 10, 2001

Editor: Re: Applicants not prepared for interviews, April 4 letter to the editor:

I swear, sometimes I think the editors of this paper print a letter or story just to get my goat.

I recently wrote a letter saying schools need to get back to the core of their "business" -- teaching, not driver's education. Several letters have criticized me for this view, but I stand firm in my belief.

Now the manager of Ye OldeFireside Inn is proposing schools teach kids how to prepare for job interviews. What does the manager want? If schools already suffer in their ability to teach our kids history, math, sciences, English, etc., and then have to spend time teaching interviewing skills, we may as well forget trying to surpass even the illiterate and completely uneducated kids in many Third World countries on tests measuring math and language skills.

Then again, would Terry Bloxsom rather have someone who looked good, but had no clue about how to make change or speak in proper English to the customers? Look on the bright side: those who come ill-prepared for a job just made the interviewers' job that much easier.

I don't mean to be too critical, but we can't have it all. Life is not fair and those with ambition and drive and "smarts" will find a way to get ahead. The rest probably will spend the remaining years of their lives asking, "Would you like fries with that?" (I can just imagine the vitriol soon to spew from the mouths of those who think I am insensitive to those who choose to work at fast-food restaurants.)
-- Vilmar Tavares, Spring Hill

One answer might be better wages

Editor: Re: Applicants not prepared for interviews, April 4 letter to the editor from Terry Bloxsom, manager of Ye Olde Fireside Inn in Brooksville:

Perhaps the solution to your problem would be to offer better wages so you would not have such a large turnover in help. It seems you are always looking for people. The persons applying for the jobs you offer are not MBAs.
Harold Slater, Spring Hill

Solution for loose dogs is county enforcement

Editor: Several articles and letters to the editor have been in your newspaper lately regarding the problem of loose dogs and dog attacks. There also was an article describing solutions the county wanted to impose, such as raising fines.

My neighbors and I have been complaining about a loose dog since January. I was told to take video pictures and then the owner would get a summons and fine. For a month I chased around after that dog with a camera to show the dog was loose all the time, with no effort made to restrain it. Still the dog remained loose.

After calling three or more times a week to animal control, I agreed to use a trap and sign affidavits. It was as I was being shown how to use the trap by the animal control officer that I learned the owner of this dog has yet to even receive a summons. No wonder he wasn't bothered by a fine. He never received one. Even with video evidence, our diligent animal control has not bothered to summon him. Now they are having me do their job of trapping this dog. Needless to say, I sent him and his trap packing. When this dog attacks someone (and he is already growling and showing aggression), the owner will not be the only one liable in a lawsuit. The county makes the code, and is obligated to enforce it.

If you are wondering why you still have a dog problem in your neighborhood, the answer is probably the same as mine: Animal Control is just blowing a little smoke in your direction and hoping you go away. There is no enforcement. What are we paying them for?
Robin Wood, Spring Hill

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