Bryan story was poorly sketched

12/13/2003

A New York Times article in The Blade, in trying to make a point about Etch A Sketch workers in China, presented a distorted and unfair story about the city of Bryan. Apparently, the only interviews in Bryan were with unhappy former assembly line workers from Ohio Art.

Can you imagine them saying anything good?

The Etch A Sketch line moving to China certainly was not “the death of a community that had bonded over many years.”

For the record, the Etch A Sketch “that once decorated the courthouse lawn through the holidays” was but a small part of the Christmas decorations and only appeared three of the 50-plus years of decorating the square.

The complete Bryan story reads like this: Bryan is the No. 1 ranked city in Ohio in Norman Crampton s book The 100 Best Small Towns in America. Criteria used for selection included per capita income, number of physicians per 100,000 residents, crime rate, percentage of population with a four-year college education or more, local government spending for public education, and proportion of population in the 25-34 year age group.

Bryan has five full service banks, three of them with two branches, and a sixth bank, planning to open next year. Does this sound like a decaying small town?

The story stated “The town s historic central square is in repose.” Bryan s square has a department store, a men s store, a drug store, a GNC, two office supply stores, a movie theater, a sports store - a total of 50 shops and restaurants. How s that compare with downtown Toledo?

Please come back to Bryan and give us a second look. Maybe take a carriage ride around the beautifully decorated square.

TOM VOIGT

Chairman

Bryan Development Corp.

A Dec. 3 Forum writer made some very good points regarding the use of animals in education, but I believe he has missed the mark on the need for hands-on dissection in biology classes.

As a veterinarian, I agree with the value of the hands-on experience as a learning tool. For example, I would not want to perform surgery on an animal without having thorough training and experience that will ensure success. I believe, for a veterinarian, training on animal specimens is necessary to accomplish this expertise Neither would I want a surgeon to operate on me without the equivalent level of training.

I do not agree, however, with the necessity to use animal specimens at any scholastic level up to the college level to “clarify concepts.” I have reviewed several of the computer and on-line dissection programs (there are dozens of these programs for any species of living organism likely to be found in a biology lab) and was impressed with the quality and utility of these educational materials for the intended purpose.

It is, most assuredly, not a case of “going to a strawberry festival and being served prunes.” We should look beyond this kind of trite trivialization of the issue and realize that it is, beyond biology education, a case of individual ethical and moral decisions. Our students should have the opportunity to make this choice and our schools should be prepared and willing to make alternate selections for animal education available.

DAVID A. CLARK, DVM

Perrysburg

Prior to Congress passing the Medicare prescription legislation, I listened to the rhetoric from members of both political parties so I could decipher the effects of this law on me. Only after its passage did I learn that the premium, the deductible, and the coverage gap would all increase annually. Was there a noxious reason for those legislators not to reveal that information?

RALPH D. HOWER

Harvard Boulevard

If Bush can t even provide flu shots ...

If we don t have enough flu shots to protect all Americans, what if we were to be attacked by terrorists with bio and chemical weapons? Where are you, George W. Bush?

PATRICK NG

Bowling Green