Letters to the Editors

School chief's achievements worth the price

I'm a bit disappointed at the complaints coming from this community regarding the recent salary increase for Dr. Howard Hinesley, superintendent of Pinellas County schools.

While many people try to make their concern a financial issue, to me it is an education issue. Under Dr. Hinesley's leadership, this school system has risen to become one of the best-rated in the United States and especially in Florida. Test scores are up. Graduation rates have increased. Special schools to meet student needs have been established. So I ask, what are these accomplishments worth?

With regard to funding his salary increase: If you divide the $66,000 annual increase by the 18,000 employees in the school system, it amounts to $3.66 per year per employee. I'm confident most employees would be willing to sacrifice this amount for the peace of mind that comes with a sound school system under excellent leadership.

Finally: In case you feel Dr. Hinesley is overpaid, remember that the highest paid Tampa Bay Devil Rays player makes $17-million per year, or $34,000 per time at bat. Who contributes more to the people of Pinellas County? I think you know the answer.
-- K.E. Webster, Palm Harbor

Cold air ruins atmosphere at Ruth Eckerd Hall

Having spent one more most uncomfortable evening at Ruth Eckerd Hall for the Moscow State Orchestra concert, I feel compelled to complain.

The problem is the cold temperature in the theater -- more specifically, the blast of cold air coming down on my sensitive bald pate. The problem is more acute in the upper reaches of the theater, where seats are progressively closer to the ceiling and the monstrous air-conditioning outlets. I think that had these conditions prevailed in the front rows, the major contributors would have insisted on some remedy long ago.

It is obvious that for the theater as a whole to be comfortable, a certain volume of cold air is required; but it appears that the same blast comes through every outlet, which is not felt directly in the high-ceiling front half of the theater but is much too strong for those directly under the outlets in the upper reaches. As a temporary solution, some adjustment could be made there.

The problem is not limited to Ruth Eckerd Hall. It occurs in other theaters, but not as severely. It also occurs in restaurants, churches and even homes. The blame belongs to the air-conditioning industry, engineers and architects. Since the invention of air conditioning, there has been not one single improvement to the original idea of blasting cold air into a building or room from overhead outlets.

I am no engineer, but the main idea is that you have warm air and you want to get rid of it. It would seem that removing warm air from under the ceiling where it rises could be done with high-speed, silent exhaust fans on the roof through outlets in the ceiling. In many cases this would be sufficient to maintain the temperature at a reasonable level; but even if air conditioning were still required, the cold air should be introduced in a subtle manner -- maybe through wall outlets aimed high, not through ceiling outlets aimed directly at the poor trapped patrons.

I may not see any improvement in my lifetime (I'm 81), but I hope this letter spurs someone in the air-conditioning industry to consider a different approach and make our world a lot more comfortable.
-- J.C. Lachaine, Palm Harbor

Paraplegics' loving, devoted caregivers are an inspiration

Today I was waiting for repairs on the power lift that lifts my electric wheelchair off the ground at the rear of my automobile when I fell in love with three very wonderful women. They are wives of men who have become paraplegics and must rely on their wives to be caretakers.

I was just sitting in the waiting room when these beautiful women began talking about their daily lives as caretakers for their mates. I immediately knew that they each loved their husbands and their children, and they spend almost the full day proving this love.

I have been handicapped for a number of years, but I can do almost everything for myself. I have a wonderful wife who cares for me and does the things I can't physically handle, but not what these three girls do. They clean, they wash, they feed, they empty disposal bags, they dress and undress the men they are devoted to. I have never known a man who is a paraplegic; but if their wives are like the ones I met today, I love them, also!

The majority of us have no understanding of the hard work and rigid routines needed to help a paraplegic survive on a daily basis.

I challenge the St. Petersburg Times to investigate the lives of men or women who are paraplegic. I know you would find in the hearts of these caregivers a love that would make all of us feel the message these fine people send to their loved ones. I will never again look at a paraplegic in a wheelchair without feeling compassion, not only for the person in the chair but also a real sense of love for the person who is the caretaker.
-- James W. Jones, Clearwater

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