Sept. 4, 2012: W.Va.'s future; Events in the Bible; Public education
We need to invest in W.Va.'s future
Editor:
West Virginia has again received one of the worst education rankings in the country and that doesn't look good for our future economy. It's time to do something about it and the answer is right in front of us.
The West Virginia Lottery Commission, along with the Legislature, gave more than $53 million to "thoroughbred purses" last year. Thoroughbred purses are the prize money horse owners get when their horse wins a race. It's also how Mexican drug cartels got caught laundering money. This year we're told that there is an extra 71 million dollars of lottery money to dispense.
Our public schools have had to operate at the bare bones level for years, and it's time to stop starving our schools of money. We need to spend this money on the future of our state, by fully funding preschool programs, after-school programs and our public schools, to the tune of more than $2 million per county, above and beyond what the schools get now. In Roane County, if a student wants to play an instrument in a band they have to buy the instrument. If a student in Jackson County wants to play football, they better have plenty of money to buy their own equipment. In Mineral County they may have to drop some sports programs because they just don't have enough money. It's time to fully fund all of these things and then some. The money is there, if someone doesn't steal it first.
Two million dollars per county multiplied by 55 counties adds up to $110 million dollars. Imagine what sort of preschool programs could be funded in every county with say $400,000, and all the jobs that would create? What about $600,000 for after-school programs? Imagine still having an extra million dollars for every county's public schools? A county might buy an activities bus or two, all the band instruments the students could use for years, fully fund all the sports programs and then hire tutors. It's time to bring back more art and music and sports to our schools in a big way in an effort to keep kids interested and motivated. It's time to invest in West Virginia's future, and the money is there if we demand it. It's time to demand it!
Steve Gormezano
Gandeeville
Not all events in the Bible are endorsed
Editor:
In a July 30 "Potpourri" item, the Gazette criticizes Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy for his negative opinion of gay marriage and his support of "the biblical definition of a family."
The editor then notes that the Old Testament patriarchs had multiple wives, and Solomon in particular had hundreds of wives and concubines. The piece ends with a question, "Is that a biblical definition of a family?"
I assume the question is rhetorical with the editor's intent to mean that, if that fact reflects the biblical ideal family structure, then Dan Cathy is crazy and hypocritical to support such a thing.
Just because a historical event or fact is reported in a book of the Bible does not necessarily mean that the intent was to affirm or endorse the recorded event or fact. I am sure that when Luke recorded in his Gospel that Judas went to the chief priests to betray Jesus (22:4-6) that Luke was not endorsing Judas' behavior. Also, a thorough reading of the accounts of the patriarchs who had multiple wives, or children with multiple women, will show that much strife and turmoil often resulted from those relationships.
We need to invest in W.Va.'s future
Editor:
West Virginia has again received one of the worst education rankings in the country and that doesn't look good for our future economy. It's time to do something about it and the answer is right in front of us.
The West Virginia Lottery Commission, along with the Legislature, gave more than $53 million to "thoroughbred purses" last year. Thoroughbred purses are the prize money horse owners get when their horse wins a race. It's also how Mexican drug cartels got caught laundering money. This year we're told that there is an extra 71 million dollars of lottery money to dispense.
Our public schools have had to operate at the bare bones level for years, and it's time to stop starving our schools of money. We need to spend this money on the future of our state, by fully funding preschool programs, after-school programs and our public schools, to the tune of more than $2 million per county, above and beyond what the schools get now. In Roane County, if a student wants to play an instrument in a band they have to buy the instrument. If a student in Jackson County wants to play football, they better have plenty of money to buy their own equipment. In Mineral County they may have to drop some sports programs because they just don't have enough money. It's time to fully fund all of these things and then some. The money is there, if someone doesn't steal it first.
Two million dollars per county multiplied by 55 counties adds up to $110 million dollars. Imagine what sort of preschool programs could be funded in every county with say $400,000, and all the jobs that would create? What about $600,000 for after-school programs? Imagine still having an extra million dollars for every county's public schools? A county might buy an activities bus or two, all the band instruments the students could use for years, fully fund all the sports programs and then hire tutors. It's time to bring back more art and music and sports to our schools in a big way in an effort to keep kids interested and motivated. It's time to invest in West Virginia's future, and the money is there if we demand it. It's time to demand it!
Steve Gormezano
Gandeeville
Not all events in the Bible are endorsed
Editor:
In a July 30 "Potpourri" item, the Gazette criticizes Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy for his negative opinion of gay marriage and his support of "the biblical definition of a family."
The editor then notes that the Old Testament patriarchs had multiple wives, and Solomon in particular had hundreds of wives and concubines. The piece ends with a question, "Is that a biblical definition of a family?"
I assume the question is rhetorical with the editor's intent to mean that, if that fact reflects the biblical ideal family structure, then Dan Cathy is crazy and hypocritical to support such a thing.
Just because a historical event or fact is reported in a book of the Bible does not necessarily mean that the intent was to affirm or endorse the recorded event or fact. I am sure that when Luke recorded in his Gospel that Judas went to the chief priests to betray Jesus (22:4-6) that Luke was not endorsing Judas' behavior. Also, a thorough reading of the accounts of the patriarchs who had multiple wives, or children with multiple women, will show that much strife and turmoil often resulted from those relationships.
Doug James
Scott Depot
We must not get rid of public education
Editor:
I come from a unique family. My great-grandmother attended Storer College because she couldn't go to a public school but her children were able to go to public schools. Five graduated and went on to college and one step-daughter also went to college. Many went on to become professionals.
She encouraged her in-laws to follow her. Five children all graduated from public high schools and public colleges. This set up a precedent. Grandchildren and great-grandchildren have attended public schools and colleges.
As a great-granddaughter, I'm proud of her and her efforts to get us exposed to education. Although she had 12 children she still served as a substitute teacher.
I'm an avid proponent of public schools. Most of my relatives went to segregated schools with inadequate books, buildings, hand-me-down resources, but we excelled. Charter schools sound good, but these are businesses, and the bottom line could be more important than education.
Currently, as in the past, my relatives have served as principals, administrators, as well as teachers in public schools. For the 1 percent, privatizing education isn't the answer. I pray that Americans aren't gullible enough to get rid of public education.
Joan P. Green
Charleston
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