Letters to the Editors

State's approach to education is shortsighted

I have lived in the St. Petersburg area for more than 20 years. My two children attended public school here, and one graduated from the University of Central Florida. I am not a teacher. I grew up and was educated outside Florida.

My wife and I have watched the deterioration of the quality of public education in this state with growing alarm. It was only through extreme attention to our own children's education that we feel they received adequate (not great) instruction in the public schools here. Every year, we have seen more money pulled from public education, and increasingly feeble excuses from our public servants to cover their tracks.

The Nov. 28 editorial, The special session pop quiz, is yet another case in point. When I see statistics that show Florida has slipped yet again in its "support" of public education compared to other states and see Gov. Jeb Bush saying things like "I think kids are better off in our state," it comes off yet again as empty political rhetoric. But the topper was Rep. Jerry Melvin's comment about class size. He may be right -- there may not be a study that says class size makes no difference in student achievement (I'll bet he's wrong on that). However, common sense and personal experience say that class size does matter. Melvin's inane comment speaks volumes. How out-of-touch must a person be to make such a comment? How self-absorbed and irresponsible?

I am mystified that our Legislature continues to sabotage our country's future by being so short-sighted. Thomas Jefferson was a firm believer in the necessity of public education and put it best when he said, "If a nation expects to be ignorant and free in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be." It was his stated hope that ". . . the education of the common people will be attended to . . ."

Since Melvin is so convinced that class size doesn't matter, here's a budget-saving suggestion: Fire all the teachers in every school except one. Make the whole school one big class. Think of the money we would save.
-- Alan Boyd, Seminole

Aim at the turkeys

In all the rhetoric and posturing over the budget by the state's politicians, I have not seen any discussion about removing the "turkeys," fat, luxury items included to curry favor at home.

It would seem that is where voters should be demanding that the first cuts come. Then they can look at other items. Apparently, the luxury items included are more important than basic needs such as education and medical coverage, etc.
-- Llewellyn E. Denny, Safety Harbor

Remember our own children

Re: Tight state budget a lesson to educators, Nov. 26.

I find it appalling that millions of dollars were raised to send to Afghanistan in support of the children there, when evidently we in the state of Florida must fight continuous "budget cuts" and other shortcomings. Are our own children not as important?

Afghanistan's children are indeed suffering, but in fact who caused this? Must our own children suffer a greater loss than they have already? Who will come to their rescue!? The loss that was suffered on Sept. 11 must be remembered, but why not turn it around to benefit our own. Our children are our future. Americans, wake up!
-- Dawn Nguyen, Pinellas Park

Language program is worth saving

Re: Tight state budget a lesson to educators.
-- Our membership deplores the possible elimination of the Spanish Immersion Program being offered in Hillsborough County. Programs like this narrow the gaps in our multiracial ethnic community. They bring understanding and help our state to position itself as an economic supplier to Latin America based on our abilities as a bilingual state.
Ralph "Alex" Emmanuelli, executive director, UNO Federation Community Services, Inc., Dundein

Consider tax reform proposal

Re: My tax reform proposal will ensure stability, by John McKay, Nov. 18.

The column by Sen. McKay was excellent. I hope it "scored" with the Times readers! I don't know McKay personally nor is he my senator, but I liked his reasoning.

Collecting $17-billion annually (in sales tax) and exempting $23-billion makes no sense. The situation as described is a mess.

I urge everyone to contact their senator and representative and ask them to ensure this situation is thoroughly aired in the Legislature! In fact I would like to hear a point by point discussion of the merits of McKay's proposal. Then we could all decide rather than letting the lobbyists do it!
-- E. Adams, St. Petersburg

Meals on Wheels continues in Tampa

Re: Pinellas Meals on Wheels faces cuts, Nov. 16.

The recent headline concerning the possibility of reduced services by Meals on Wheels/Neighborly Senior Services may be confusing to some of your senior readers. There are several nonprofit organizations in the Tampa Bay region known as "Meals on Wheels." Although these organizations strive to work cohesively to address the growing needs of the elder population, they are entirely independent of one another.

Neighborly Senior Services, Inc. of Pinellas County is a separate and distinct organization not related to Meals on Wheels of Tampa or to many other area Meals on Wheels. Meals on Wheels of Tampa wishes to assure our recipients and their families that our services are continuing. Our board of directors has tasked the organization with identifying additional persons in need and planning for future growth. Due to the consistent support and commitment of our community, effective management and board leadership, Meals On Wheels of Tampa is able to continue operations despite a declining economy.

Meals On Wheels of Tampa accepts no federal, state or local government funding. We rely solely on our recipients and the generosity of our community. Our community, recipients, volunteers and board are proud of our independence. For more than 26 years, we have provided nutrition, human contact and helped the frail elderly remain independent.
-- Bruce Hepp, executive director, Meals On Wheels of Tampa

Helping the poor with legal services

Re: Legal aid to low-income residents, Nov. 25.

Thank you so much for highlighting the needs of those who cannot afford civil legal services. The Florida Bar is proud to support legal aid legislation (HB 491/SB 512) that will help so many who need legal services but cannot afford them.

Just to clarify an important point, Florida's lawyers donated a total of 1.3-million pro bono hours last year, with a value in excess of $100-million, as well as another 6.3-million hours of free legal services to various charitable, civic and religious organizations outside of official pro bono work. In addition to their time, Florida lawyers donated $1.6-million in direct legal aid funding.

Even with the efforts of so many Florida lawyers to help those who need legal services, we are not reaching enough of our low-income citizens. With this legislation, we hope that legal aid can be provided to those who need it most.
-- Terrence Russell, president, the Florida Bar, Tallahassee

Desalination makes no sense for Florida

Where was the public outcry when the last legal obstacles to the construction of a desalinization plant in Hillsborough County were overcome? We will hear the public protests in the end, when our water bills are doubled or tripled. Desal technology has serious problems and is now used mainly as a last resort in places where no better source of drinking water can be found.

Water-starved Israel decided the technology was too expensive and too polluting and is only now going to build plants with international financial aid because peace negotiations involve provisions giving water to Jordon and Syria.

How can desalination be appropriate in a state like Florida that has a vast aquifer and billions of gallons of untapped fresh spring water flowing into the Gulf of Mexico each day? Desalination plants use huge amounts of energy and discharge large quantities of harmful chemicals, causing air and water pollution, creating hard-to-dispose-of wastes and large amounts of salt residues that could affect the delicate balance of gulf water salinity and the survival of sea creatures.

Construction of the only large, seawater desal plant in the United States, in Santa Barbara Calif., was underpriced to promote the technology, but unexpected environmental problems have caused 20 per cent cost increases over the estimates.

Tampa Bay Water officials admit that the cost of our drinking water will be raised from $1 per 1,000 gallons to $1.75 for the first year. After that they offer no guarantees on the costs. If the price of energy goes up, so does the cost of the water. What's more, desal will produce drinking water high in salinity with questionable effects on health and corrosion of pipes, at the same time that there is there is more pure spring water in Florida than any other place in the country. Can someone explain the logic of building plants to take the salt out of water which originally flowed into the gulf as fresh spring water?
-- Barbara Witlin, Crystal Beach

Put neighbors above rules

Re: Carefree yard, big trouble, Nov. 28.

Joy Yauslin takes a great deal of pride in her property and in beautifying the neighborhood with her artificial-turf lawn in Palm Harbor.

Apparently the board of the local homeowners association, particularly Jim Lenox, the board's treasurer, have no appreciation of the investment that a homeowner has made and the additional expense it would burden Ms. Yauslin with to have the artificial grass removed and a sod lawn installed. And all because the board cannot see beyond a set of rules.

Here's a bit of advice for the board, particularly Lenox. These words came from the president of a local bank who was talking to a vice president who had just made the comment that a certain transaction could not be done because it was against bank policy:

"Policy is meant to stimulate thinking, not freeze it."

The board members could certainly elevate their tunnel-vision thinking and amend the provision about sodded lawns to include artificial turf to beautiful residential lawns. It certainly will enhance the neighborhood more than dead, brown grass.

It's time for them to respect their neighbors instead of a set of stagnant rules.
-- Robert J. Mello, St. Petersburg

A community-friendly lawn

Re: Carefree yard, big trouble.

I laughed at the silliness displayed by a residential association in demanding an owner tear up her $5,000 artificial lawn because it wasn't "sod." An object of most lawns is to display a well kempt sward of greenery. Her choice is a display of well kempt greenery which is community-friendly by not requiring water, which is in short supply. Webster's Ninth Collegiate Dictionary defines sod (v) as "to cover with sod or turfs." So if her association has not defined sod as differing from turf, her turf should qualify.
-- John Christy Clement, Tierra Verde

Share your opinions

Letters may be edited for clarity, taste and length. We regret that not all letters can be published.
--

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright