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© St. Petersburg Times, published August 2, 2001
Re: New education secretary may earn $400,000, July 25.
Education Secretary Jim Horne's new salary of $225,000 per year and incentive bonuses of up to $175,000 per year are an insult to teachers across the state of Florida and to the taxpayers who are paying to improve the state education system. Once again, those who are furthest from the classroom and have little or no contact with students (photo opportunities do not count) make the most money in education.
Secretary Horne will receive his bonus money if student achievement (standardized test scores) goes up and dropout rates go down. The question is: What will he have to do with either of these things? Will he tutor students? Will he counsel them? I doubt it. How many teachers and guidance counselors could be hired with the money that is being paid to Jim Horne and other education leaders across the state?
Without Jim Horne, would one student be less ready to take the FCAT? Would any student be less ready for college or the world of work? Would one student be more likely to drop out of school? I say "No!"
It is time we stop using our tax money to pay high salaries to state officials and high-level, local administrators. Our tax money should be used to purchase classroom supplies, new and advanced programs to improve student learning, hiring new teachers, and improving the salaries of teachers, guidance counselors and school-level administrators.
-- Dan A. Sparks, Redington Beach
Re: Education paycheck revisited, July 26.
Once again teachers in Florida feel outraged, humiliated and demoralized. Under the proposed new salary plan, the state education secretary could be making more than 10 times as much as the "average" Florida teacher. This is based on "comparable" salaries in other states.
If this is to be the basis of his salary, why not raise the teachers' salaries to be comparable to other states? How can the legislature continue to tell educators that there are not enough funds to provide all the textbooks, workbooks and supplies for their students, and then turn around and offer to pay the secretary of education a salary of up to $400,000?
It is a moral shame that our brightest young adults are foregoing careers in education due to the low salary structure. When the majority of the "baby boom" teachers retire in about five years, where will their replacements be? They'll be making good salaries in the private, corporate world. Then from where will the educators of future generations come?
It is more than just sad to contemplate. It will be a national crisis. How bad will things have to be before the legislators finally take the only logical action -- raise teachers' salaries? Do it now, before the crisis occurs. Oops -- too late -- the crisis is already here. Hundreds of teacher openings already exist, and schools will be back in session soon. Everyone should contact their legislators and demand "comparable" salaries for teachers. The future of our country is at stake!
-- Linda Sullivan, Clearwater
It seems that any time a proposal is made to bring universal health care coverage to the United States, an instantaneous objection is heard from the various insurance companies throughout the country. Their main objection seems to be that it will never work, and that the current system just needs minor adjustments.
My proposal to these insurance companies is to put their money where their mouth is. If you want to continue this current system, then all the delinquencies adding up at all our hospitals and doctors' offices due to citizens being uninsured should be paid in full by your industry. Otherwise, please stop raising your voices when our legislators attempt to make health care affordable and accessible for everyone. Your industry surely has failed to do this.
-- Michael Cote, Holiday
Re: Executive's suicide gives voice to depression, July 29.
Depression (the disease) is often confused with depression (the blues).
Depression (the disease) is a serious chemical disorder with a high mortality rate. Someone with the blues can "snap out of it" with a vacation, a good friend or a shopping spree. However, a person with the disease of depression is no more likely to "snap out of it" than a person with diabetes or hemophilia.
Depression (the blues) can be compared to depression (the disease) as a broken heart would be compared to a heart attack.
-- Judy Robinson, St. Petersburg
Re: Leader of the party pack, July 26.
I am glad Ken Walters has his vintage Cadillac convertible. It's terrific that he has an "attractive accountant" girlfriend, to say nothing of his barfly pals. And what could be better than a "throwback to the Rat Pack" lifestyle? I was also fascinated to learn that he frequents the Chatterbox Lounge, Samba Room, Left Bank and "opulent Don Vincente de Ybor." And in these days of obsession with appearance it's nice that he apparently is not worried about being somewhat less than "particularly chiseled of chest nor chin." Did I mention how interested I was to learn from the Times that he has a private plane, boat, and other toys? And what better role model to grow up with than Dudley Moore playing the role of a playboy? Oh, one more thing ... Mr. Waters travels the world. Whew ... no wonder the article had to close with the popping of a bottle of Moet (in case you are not alcohol savvy, Moet is the expensive stuff).
But my question is this: With all the folks who struggle in this world to make it a better place (the teachers, social workers, physicians, cops, emergency response teams and even reporters, folks who have truly interesting and selfless lives), why did the Times decide to devote so much space to Mr. Walters? What is it about what was portrayed as a shallow, anachronistic and self-centered (why not park in the teachers' parking lot?) lifestyle that persuaded the Times to run such a story? Mr. Walters' lifestyle is his own business, and I am happy that he is "enjoying life," which is, after all, his self-proclaimed goal. (Others have goals too -- to educate the younger generation, eradicate disease, help the poor.) I guess my feeling is that a long time ago America had its Great Gatsby, and since then we ought to have learned something about what really matters. I thought the Times was committed to covering what matters. Guess not. But then, perhaps I just don't get it. After all, as the article points out, "Kenny knows ambiance."
-- Alex Durham, Safety Harbor
Re: Leader of the party pack, July 26.
This is the best you have to grace the headlines of the Floridian? Why would the paper waste the space to glamorize a celebrity wanna-be? Perhaps the writer is trying to get one of those 9,000 holiday cards Mr. Walters sends out to people he barely knows.
Nothing against Mr. Walters, but he is not exactly role-model material. His lifestyle is borderline strange with the fake autographed picture of Frank Sinatra and the holiday cards of himself on frames from movies. His role models of the "Rat Pack" and the Dudley Moore character "Arthur" are hardly characters to be emulated.
To each his own and I'm glad he is enjoying himself, but please regulate this shallow article to a less prominent place or better yet the tabloids. If you want to write about a Floridian who likes to party and has had some positive influence on the state, write about Jimmy Buffett. Slow news day I suppose.
-- Chuck Callaghan, Dunedin
Re: Dream car is a "toy Yoda", July 28.
Once again, Hooters has found a way to exploit its employees. While I've never patronized this establishment because I don't agree with its premise, I'm sure the young lady in question worked very hard, thinking she would achieve something she wanted. How cruel and sick to humiliate her in this way. Are we again teaching young people that hard work doesn't pay off?
Working as a waitress is hard work and I'm sure at Hooters, one has to tolerate much more.
Ladies, if you want to work your way through school, pick a high-class establishment, where perhaps hard work is appreciated. I hope this young lady gets the price of a new Toyota and much more to send a message to these employers once and for all!
-- Joyce Lindsey, Tarpon Springs
Re: Dream car is a "toy Yoda", July 28.
Never before have I ever heard of such shabby treatment of an unsuspecting employee and the shock that she must have suffered.
I hope that she is awarded a new Toyota Camry with all the bells and whistles on it. As for the manager, let him suffer the sting of his treatment for a long time to come. His friends and co-workers will know how to handle him.
-- Charles A. Trimble, Citrus Springs
Regarding the story, Dream car is a "toy Yoda" (July 28), several things came to mind.
First of all, giving incentives to personnel to increase beer sales/consumption, is a very irresponsible way to do business. These consumers then get into cars and drive while under the influence of all these beers. The owner not only put the customers at risk but everyone else on the road.
I absolutely agree that Jodee Berry was duped and that the manager misrepresented the prize. It is no laughing matter. At a time when service personnel are so hard to come by, it is inconceivable that this joke was thought up. It takes away the incentive not only from the person who won, but for every other person that works in this particular Hooters. Shame on him and I hope that Berry's attorney will prevail in court and the owner is ordered to give her a real Toyota.
As for our family, although we always enjoyed Hooters, I think it will be a long time before we patronize this place again, considering their policies on peddling beer and fooling their hardworking staff.
-- Monica Schwartz, Sun City Center
Re: As technology advances there will be even less justification for abortion, by George F. Will, July 26.
When, I wonder, will those who call themselves "Pro-Life" cease calling the rest of us "pro-abortion?"
Yes, George Will does use the designation "Pro-choice" -- once, sneeringly, in quotation marks. In the rest of his article, those who oppose him are "pro-abortion." (He uses the expression four times.)
Mr. Will, please, please, can't you see that we are not -- repeat not -- abortion lovers? We are not against "life." We are against suffering life, partial life, maimed life, pitifully shortened life. We are in favor of every child's healthy, desired entry into the world.
We are simply advocating a woman's right to decide for herself, after much thought, and after medical advice, what sort of life it is to which she wishes to give birth.
"Choose Life." We do!
-- Abigail Ann Martin, Brandon
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