Letters

Heaven In Kentucky?
Brenda Matthews (Letters, April) shared her need for a full-time aide in her K-1 class and indicated that "in Kentucky, all kindergartens have full-time aides--this must be heaven!" Sorry Brenda, but it is not heaven because we do not all have full-time aides.

Some counties provide full-time aides. I guess they can see their importance for early learners. I commend these counties. As for the others, I wish they would spend the day in our rooms of four-, five-, and six-year-olds (sometimes seven-)!

Susan Dowell
Versailles, Kentucky

I do indeed feel fortunate to have a full-time aide with me in my kindergarten class. I understand the overwhelming task that Brenda Matthews described.

While a full-time aide helps the teacher tremendously, she helps my students even more. That is the issue, isn't it? For many children, this first experience in school is a very big step. Kindergarten children have so many needs--physically, emotionally, socially, and academically. It is unsafe and educationally unsound to expect one teacher to carry this responsibility.

Emily Porter
Georgetown, Kentucky

I am a teacher's aide in Florida. We do not have teacher's aides in our K-1 classrooms, except for special education students.

We do have a lot of parents who volunteer their time. Most aren't working and just love being with their children and their children's friends in school a few hours a day. I should know. I volunteered for a few years. Then someone suggested I apply for a full-time job.

I suggest that Ms. Matthews just ask, "Anyone care to help me?"

I bet she will be surprised!

Karen O'Connell
Port Saint Lucie, Florida

Low Pay, High Scores
Question: Which are some of the most educationally successful states?

Answer: Poor, rural states that pay their teachers dismally.

Why on earth would policymakers in Iowa, North Dakota (News, April), or Maine want to put more dollars into education when they are reaping fine rewards under the status quo?

If you were a legislator in a state where kids achieve great test scores and college placements, how could you justify paying your classroom teachers more? Would an increase in salary truly benefit the kids?

This is the reality, and it probably will not change soon in poorer rural states, which are, by the way, some of the greatest places to live and raise your kids, despite some faults.

Young people who are strongly drawn toward teaching as a profession must be informed honestly about such conditions, and if they choose to work in these places, simply accept what they can get.

Peter J. Lucas
Lincoln, Maine

T-Shirt Messages
I strongly agree with school uniforms and dress codes that teach students the importance of dressing appropriately for school, but I am concerned about the banning of certain people or images and not others (Rights Watch, April).

The Marilyn Manson T-shirt that depicted the three Jesuses with the words "See No Truth, Hear No Truth, Speak No Truth" and the word "Believe" on the back with the word "lie" highlighted may be unsuitable for school. However, some of us find T-shirts that say "What Would Jesus Do?" and other Christian-centered propaganda equally offensive.

If we are going to target so-called "bad influences" for their messages, we should ban all messages to ensure that public schools really are public!

Nicole Andrews
Sacramento, California

Vegetarianism In School
As a vegan educator, I appreciate "Beyond Broccoli: Vegetarian-ism in School" (Health and Fitness, April). I know how difficult it is for vegetarian students to get healthy and appetizing options at school. Vegetarians and vegans enjoy a large variety of dishes beyond the boring tomato and lettuce salads served at lunch time.

It is important to teach schoolchildren about these healthy, pro-environment, and humane choices in order to provide an alternative to their common fat-based diet promoted by fast-food corporations.

We live in a country where heart conditions (closely related to meat consumption) have become the number one killers.

The waste of natural resources to favor cattle raising should also be brought to students' attention.

Finally, the inhumane treatment of animals in the meat production business should be considered as a topic in health, philosophy, economics, and social studies classes.

Some fellow teachers have told me such issues do not belong in public schools. I strongly disagree.

To make students aware of the connection between their food choices and their sense of compassion and empathy, we do not need to shock them with gory pictures or videos. We only need to provide factual information.

Maru Vigo
Tucson, Arizona

Estate Tax
In the April "Bottom Line" item on the estate tax, the facts you presented are wrong. First of all, the estate tax hits small businesses, especially family farms, the hardest.

Taxes have already been paid by the businesses many times over. Why does the government think it is all right to do it one more time? Many small and family-run businesses have been forced to close due to these confiscatory taxes.

Repealing this tax would not cost the government money. It would let businesses continue to employ people and contribute to the economy. Government does not make money and grow the economy--it takes from one faction and gives to another, generally nonproductive.

As for your source, ufenet.org, their motto should be (with apologies to Karl Marx for paraphrasing), "From each according to their means, to each according to their need." Sound familiar?

Bette Barr
East Windsor, New Jersey

Boy Scouts
I am glad that Paul Milligan (Letters, April) is praying for the Boy Scouts. They have my prayers as well, prayers that they will transcend the grim example being set for them by their national leadership and Scouting failures like Milligan.

Scouting, like all religions, has its misguided zealots who disregard countless virtues in its creed in a fascist-like effort to cull those from the herd they deem unacceptable.

In my Scouting years, I don't recall a badge for whining. I think it is particularly undignified that educator Milligan is whining that taxpayers are objecting to financing this worthwhile but darkly exclusive club.

Robert Brown
San Clemente, California

Bush Leadership
It was surprising and most interesting to find no word of the new Administration in your city.

Especially since you have focused carefully on race relationships, that our new Secretary of Education was not mentioned in this inaugural climate is shocking.

The nation needs the leaders who are now in office. Let's not be the last to acknowledge their presence.

Robert Foy Mitchell
Benton, Arkansas

Pizza Reward
Nancy Everson's school rewards children who complete every homework assignment for the entire quarter with a pizza luncheon (Dilemma, April). She says, "You should see the faces of the kids who didn't make the luncheon when the pizza deliveryman comes."

When I read that, I just felt sick. How sad for a teacher to take pleasure in the disappointment of a child.

While I agree that the children who turned in every assignment deserve to be rewarded, let's also have some understanding for those who did not. Nancy Everson should see the eyes of some of the children who talk to me every day about what happened at their house last night.

We would all do well to remember that some children live with alcohol and drug abuse, hunger, neglect, sexual abuse, domestic violence, and poverty for "the entire quarter."

Debra Marshall
Brunswick, Ohio

Book Banning
I was appalled to read of the Oyate organization's efforts to have books banned because they aren't palatable to their politically correct tastes (Innovators, March).

They challenged an offensive 1940 book and had it removed from a literature list for social studies and history. This is censorship and political correctness in the extreme.

As educators, isn't it our job to teach children to make critical judgements and discern stereotyping for themselves? Even if a book is offensive to some, that does not justify banning it. Isn't that what Hitler did?

Laura Cauler
Moorestown, New Jersey

Controversial Stances
I am bothered by the assumptions made by NEA about the beliefs of its members. In "When Kids Don't Have a Straight Answer" (Health and Fitness, March), it is assumed that all NEA members accept the idea that some children discover their sexual orientation to be gay or lesbian. In other cases, NEA takes a pro-choice stance on abortion, again assuming that all members agree.

As the religious convictions of the members of NEA are very diverse, NEA should avoid strong support of such emotionally charged, religious-ly connected, controversial topics. These stances divide our strength.

Our focus should be on educating children, a cause one should be safe in assuming all members support.

Ellen Flury
Palmyra, Pennsylvania

About "When Kids Don't Have a Straight Answer": In teacher-training classes, we are taught about self-fulfilling prophecies, and told not to label students because they will grow to fit the labels. Are we to label 12-year-olds "gay" so they can fulfill the prophecy?

Twelve-year-olds feel that the opposite sex has "cooties." Is this normal stage to be labeled gay?

Every right comes with a responsibility. Students need to know there is a responsibility that goes with the privilege of sex. Sex should be postponed until a person can appropriately handle that responsibility.

You said gay students are confused when told that sex should be postponed until marriage because they don't plan to marry. Whether a person chooses to marry is another choice that has a responsibility to go with the privilege. Sometimes, "Wait until you marry" is another way to say, "Wait until you are old enough to handle the responsibility."

Your article mentioned the higher-than-usual consequences in the form of drugs, alcohol, and HIV for gay students. Obviously, these students are not able to handle the responsibility of their sexual activity, and the result is risk-taking behavior.

Drinking, driving, and voting have set legal ages. Let's minimize some of the problems of sexual orientation by postponing the activity.

Janice Barton
Elko, Nevada

An Idea and A Query
I just received my first two issues of NEA Today and found them full of useful information.

I'd like to address two items:

First, an idea for student-graded papers. I bought dozens of red pencils at the start of the year. When we begin learning a new skill, I let each student grade his or her own paper. This helps them understand their mistakes and embarasses no one.

The parents know that red pencil is a student-graded paper, while red pen means I have graded the paper.

Second, I was thrilled to see the article on reading comprehension. I've searched everywhere for information on how to help students who read fluently, but don't understand much of what they read. I teach third grade. I would appreciate any information that could help at this level.

Ann Marie Egan
Trenton, Florida

No Cell Phones
About Gail Washburn's yes side of the April debate on cell phones and pagers: How many times does a parent really need to call school--once a month? The majority of calls would be from other kids, and school does not need to be interrupted by 20 students in a classroom getting unnecessary calls.

It is also likely that a number of these calls would be drug-related.

Parents can call the school, or work out an emergency plan with the student ahead of time.

Sandra Mooney
Kemp, Texas

Has Gail Washburn been brainwashed, or abducted and forced to write her side of the argument at gunpoint?

I teach high school art in Louisville, with 20 years experience, and believe me, what Ms. Washburn proposes on this matter would be so counterproductive that little learning would be accomplished. I don't want cell phones or pagers going on during my classes for any reason other than emergencies. That's what the intercom and office phones are for.

It's bad enough that many students are only at school to socialize, with some hope of acquiring knowledge through osmosis. To allow phone calls during class--that's ludicrous.

D. Miller
Louisville, Kentucky