Letter to the Editor

Letters to the Editor

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Money does matter in Education

To the Editor:

I'm tired of hearing that additional funds for public education won't make a difference. Yes, folks it would. We know that public education funding has had dramatic cuts of close to a million dollars, and educators have had to do more with less.

What could additional funding do? How can making a class size manageable help? Additional funds could hire more teachers, aides and other support professionals. Just imagine with enough funds we could have more enrichment classes, art, music and foreign languages. Additional staff can mean more one-on-one help.

Some of the candidates talk about school choice. That sounds good, but what it is doing is something else. Charter and private schools have different rules but get the funding before the rest is divided for public schools. Private schools don't have to admit all students. If you could pick and choose, would you admit students with handicaps, learning problems or those that seem to be disruptive with behavior problems?

Students that come to kindergarten unable to say their names, count or even behave in group settings are the reality of many low-economic families. There are candidates that believe in proper pre-school funding, proper use of Title I funds (funds designated for free and reduced lunch kids) and fair accountability.

Our public school educators are doing their best, but just imagine how much more they could do if they had proper funding for smaller classes, additional course choices and help for those that struggle. Look at the candidates and make the right choice for all our kids, they are the future.

Mary Puntney

Bloomfield


Are all students equipped for college?

To the Editor:

ISTEP testing to determine if a student is ready for college -- not all students should go to college.

Lawmakers should remember the statistical normal curve. One end has students with little ability and should think of an apprenticeship or vocational school. Next is the group of "average" students, some can do well in college, some better in vocational school. The top end of the curve has students with much ability who should not be held back by standards for average students.

Varsity sports have come more important than academics in USA schools. Take varsity sports out of public schools!

The Smithsonian magazine in September 2011 reported that students in Finland do not start school until age 7, do not take many standardized tests then do better than USA students in math, science, and language. Finland does not have varsity sports in school! The students play sports but that is in clubs not connected with the school.

Scientific American August 2012 on Page 64 has, "Parents are the essential root of scientific literacy." Page 65 has, " ..., parental educational attainment is the most predictive of a student's later pursuit of science." Good teachers cannot teach science if the student does not have encouragement at home!

Language and grammar are important in public schools. We think in a language!

James F. Jackson

Carlisle


Woman is thankful for help

To the Editor:

I hardly know how to say thanks for the many prayers and expressions of kindness shown to me during and after Don's passing, as well as during his almost four years of physical problems.

We are blessed with many wonderful friends.

Thanks to Pastor Jim and Jackie Cooper for the visits and prayers, and also to Pastor Jim for the message at Don's "Celebration of Life" service.

Thanks for the Gideon Bibles given in Don's memory, as well as the donations to the Linton First United Methodist Church and Jasonville Senior Citizens.

Thanks for the food brought to our house, the visits and the wonderful meal prepared by the ladies of the church.

God bless all of you.

Maxine Lifford

Jasonville