Opinion: Parent response shows program is working

If allegations prove to be true regarding Bethel Metropolitan Christian School, then appropriate state agencies will respond. It is against the law to abuse children, and it is against the law to misappropriate funds. Private schools work under many of the same state and federal laws that govern government schools.

But let's not indict the McKay scholarship program for children with disabilities because of allegations against one school. Based on the 10-year-old voucher program in Milwaukee, Wis., we know that lack of accountability has not been a significant factor. St. Petersburg parents removed their kids from government schools because the children's needs were not being met. Now they may have to remove them from a private school. But fortunately they have that option and are not locked into a failing system.

This is the beauty of the parent-choice model. After only seven weeks of school, parents are able to respond to perceived inadequacies in their children's schooling. This shows that the program works.
-- Mack R. Hicks, Partnership for Educational Fairness, Pinellas Park

Leaving no child behind?

Re: DOE looks the other way, editorial.

I am not surprised by the attitude of the Department of Education regarding disabled students in Florida. I believe wholeheartedly that the expansion of the McKay Scholarship program is a deliberate attempt to rid the public schools of the expense of properly educating the disabled.

It may interest some to know that at the same time this expansion took place, the DOE withdrew funding for enhanced aides for disabled students. What this means is that if your son or daughter attends public school and is classified as disabled, he or she is no longer entitled to a full-time aide in the classroom. The paltry amount paid out of public funds to the "McKay schools" does not begin to cover the funds needed to provide aides, special equipment, and the other amenities necessary to adequately educate a handicapped child.

My son is high-level autistic. He is not retarded, but is in need of a special aide in order to succeed in the classroom. It has been determined that since he functions at such a high level, placing him in a full autistic classroom would not be appropriate. In most areas he functions within the parameters of a "normal" student. However, he has severe developmental problems in language and writing skills. He also has problems with his ability to change his focus from one activity to another. These are common problems for autistic children.

When he had an enhanced aide full-time, he was succeeding in school. He had even made honor roll and principal's list a few times. Since the removal of the program, providing him with an enhanced aide, he is failing. His teachers are not trained enough, nor do they have the time, to deal with his problems. The school counselors are in a quandary because he doesn't belong in an autistic classroom, but obviously will end up failing without extra help. We may end up having to place him in classes with emotionally disturbed children to get him the help he needs.

It is obvious that the DOE is attempting to force parents of the handicapped to take their expensive and labor-intensive "problem children" elsewhere.

The Bushes' motto of "leave no child behind" apparently only applies to "normal" children. Those of us with "defective" children can take a flying leap.
-- Rae A. Osborne, St. Petersburg

Harry Potter keeps kids reading

Re: Parents must sign for Harry Potter, Oct. 5.

I would like to respond to the article regarding the parents who are upset over the Harry Potter books being in the school library, because they contain "witchcraft." I have read these books and they are very enjoyable. Do these parents allow their children to watch Disney movies such as Fantasia (with a sorcerer), Snow White (an evil witch) and Pinocchio (a blue fairy)? There is no more "witchcraft" contained in these books than in any of the aforementioned movies.

Although my children are no longer of school age, I do not like the idea of censoring books for everyone. If the school board has already approved a book for the library, children should have the right to read it. If a parent finds it objectionable, fine -- return the book, but don't impose your self-righteous opinion on what constitutes moral reading for my child. If you ban the books for this reason, then to be perfectly politically correct you need to ban all books on religion (so you don't offend those with different religious viewpoints), any books on politics (so you don't offend those with opposing political viewpoints) -- the list would go on and on.

Wake up, people. We are talking about fantasy, not reality. Someone has finally published a book over 100 pages that is keeping kids interested in reading again -- gee, what a concept -- and people want to stop this? One of our great freedoms is being allowed to read what we want. Please don't step on my or my children's freedom.
-- Margaret LaValley, Dunedin

Thanks for correspondent's coverage

Re: Rescued from an angry crowd, Oct. 9.

I was fascinated by this article, written by Susan Taylor Martin. Jamie Francis' photography was wonderful. They tell us of a world that is utterly foreign and scary to Americans.

Thank you for the great coverage you've provided.
-- Joan Benovic, St. Petersburg

Travels in poor judgment

Re: Rescued from an angry crowd, Oct. 9.

It is with sheer disbelief when I read that Susan Taylor Martin had been authorized to travel to Pakistan. Have you totally lost your minds? Here she was in an area that is virtually devoid of pro-American sentiment. It could be said that women in this part of the world command less respect than dogs. What possible feature article could this lady have derived that would have been worth her life?

I find this just another example of poor judgment on the part of the St. Petersburg Times.
-- Alan M.Jenney, St. Petersburg

Repeal the tax cuts

Re: Bankrupt in Tallahassee, editorial, Oct. 4.

Your editorial certainly hits the mark. However, I cannot agree that a tax on services would be a wise remedy. The revenue it produced would also be dependent on the state of Florida's economy, would increase the cost of services beyond the amount of the tax, and risks forcing service-related businesses to leave the state.

A far better plan would be to repeal the tax cuts that got us into this situation and shift dependence away from taxes dependent on economic activity to those that are independent of it.
-- William Wilgus, the Public Cause Network, Silver Springs

Getting back what's been given back

The governor has announced a severe budget shortfall and seems to be blaming it on the circumstances brought about by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on our country. The fact of the matter is that our state's budget problems were already manifesting themselves long before that fateful day in September. The current shortfall is not about a decline in tourism as much as it is about nearly $2.5-billion in tax cuts and rebates over the past three years, translating into that much less in general revenue. In "giving back" these revenues, the governor has ignored an important fact: Our state's tax base, narrow and precarious as it is, can quickly leave the residents, the children and the schools of Florida hostage to the unpredictability of the transportation industry, the weather, international events and any ripple or wrinkle in the economy.

Some will say that no one can predict with certainty these kinds of events. I agree, and it is for that very reason that billion-dollar tax giveaways in our state are a dangerous fiscal practice. Until we have built some stability into our tax structure, we need not be giving funding revenue away and we had best consider getting some of it back -- quickly.
-- Rob McMahon, president, Pinellas Classroom Teachers Association, Largo

Ignoring environmental issues

Thank you so much for the editorial Bankrupt in Tallahassee (Oct. 4). In it you mention that the Bush administration is staffed by "carpetbaggers who knew nothing of Florida when they came here and seem to care nothing about what will become of Florida after they have moved on." I was beginning to think I would never see this reported in a newspaper.

If I remember correctly, some of Florida's new home builders are large corporations based in Texas. I am concerned about this because I fear what Jeb Bush and these people plan to do to Florida, especially in light of the fact that he was ready to sign legislation that would allow untreated water to be dumped into our aquifer.

If Jeb really cared about Florida, he would require all new home community builders to use something practical like drought-resistant plants rather than St. Augustine grass. Even though my husband and I would like to move someday, we have decided against communities that would require us to water and spray our lawn, because neither of these is good for the environment.

Many people, like myself, spoke out loudly when we found out what Jeb planned to do to the aquifer, but I don't think many people are aware that Florida is being taken advantage of by out-of-state corporations. I am hopeful that your paper will do more than just make a brief, abstract reference to all this in an editorial. This needs to be plastered across the front page to make sure Florida's voters are informed for the next election.

I have read that our aquifer may not be able to supply water in as little as 15 years. If this is true, it is inexcusable that we continue to waste water as we have. And it is inexcusable that we have leaders who are trying to sweep this issue under the rug by coming up with irresponsible solutions that do not get to the root of the problem.
-- Darlene St. Martin, Largo

Greco's 'principled' decisions

Re: LaBrake's paid leave defended, Oct. 9.

It's so gratifying to know that Tampa Mayor Dick Greco is a man of principle when making his decisions, which come from his "heart."

Mayor Greco defends his signing of an executive order, empowering him to place city employees on administrative leave with pay, by saying "he's a human being" -- referring to LaBrake.

I seem to recall when Mayor Greco objected to the homeless, who resided under a few overpasses in Tampa, being fed by a ministry. Gee whiz! If you feed them, they'll never leave, he must have thought; but then, they were in a different category, not making $105,000 a year, as LaBrake does. Definitely sub-human beings.

How did you sleep then, Mr. Mayor?
-- Thomas McMahon, Palm Harbor

Mind-boggling loyalty

Tampa Mayor Dick Greco's refusal to kick Steve LaBrake to the curb after such a blatant abuse of his position reminds me of Bill Clinton and the Marc Rich pardon. Is this the beginning of our lame-duck mayor's slippery slide into private life? Thank goodness we didn't fall for that sneaky attempt to repeal term limits and let Mayor Dick stay one minute longer. Greco's loyalty to LaBrake is mind-boggling. Either LaBrake has something on Greco, or Greco's forgotten to pack his brain on the way to work.
-- Patricia Germer, Lutz

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