TPS board squanders our money

4/14/2011

In 1962, the Toledo Board of Education built Bowsher and Start high schools to relieve overcrowding at Libbey and DeVilbiss. In 1973, the board built skill centers at all high schools instead of building a bigger and better Macomber and Whitney complex. DeVilbiss and Macomber/Whitney were closed in 1991. In 2010, Start and Bowsher got new buildings. Libbey was closed.

In 1973, Toledo Public Schools decided to do away with K-8 schools and build junior highs all over town. Now TPS wants to do away with junior highs and return to the K-8 format.

TPS officials don't care how they spend our money.

Curtis Lemay
Jervis Street


What we need is GI Bill for students
Parents have the right to educate their children as they think best ("School vouchers just wrong," Readers' Forum, April 4). This right is meaningless if a large economic penalty is attached to exercising it.

Educational vouchers are not unconstitutional. Giving them to parents to use in sending their children to the schools of their choice will not result in the death of public schools, as some seem to fear. And they will not result in the establishment of a national religion.

For 65 years, our veterans have used their educational benefits under the GI Bill at the colleges of their choice, whether Ohio State, the University of Michigan, Notre Dame, or Southern Methodist. This has not weakened our state colleges one iota.

We need a GI Bill for kids. Our Founding Fathers did not envision schools that left out religion. Teaching faith and morality was one of their reasons for founding schools. It has only been in the past 50 years or so that God has begun to be banished from our public schools.

If all private schools closed tomorrow, more tax money would be needed to educate their former students in public schools. Each child is entitled to tax money, and it should follow the child to the school of the parent's choice.

Pauline English
Marengo Street


Vouchers hurt public schools
I concur with the Readers' Forum writer who argues that school vouchers undermine the public school system and should be curtailed.

From the moment vouchers for private education were approved years ago, I've felt it was a misuse of public money. Those families who want their children to have parochial or special private schooling should pay for it themselves.

We're seeing now how our public school system is eaten away by underfunding, property tax protests, and philosophical disdain of the very principle of tax-supported schooling for all children.

Nancy L. Williams
Perrysburg


The rich continue to profit from war
In perfect harmony with our government's ignorance, a weekly newsmagazine ran a story about the Civil War's aftermath that ignores the fact that, as with all wars, there was huge support from the rich.

The rich knew that in our industrial revolution, the free labor in the South would empower rich people in the North.

The rich are united today in making money from constant war. Neither the White House nor any member of Congress speaks out against the Pentagon's historical and never-ending faithfulness to the rich.

A nation whose biggest debts are from worthless wars is doomed if no one views war costs as a problem.

Firing 75 percent or more of the high-paid people in the Pentagon will not make this country less safe. The endeavors of most Pentagon employees are directed toward continuing wars and preserving their jobs.

The country is not divided now as during the Civil War, but the government in Washington is just as ignorant.

Donald A. Keller
Foxbourne Road


Postal worker took time to care
My wife passed away recently and many friends and family members came to pay their respects.

Our neighborhood postal worker also expressed her condolences to me and my family. Not only did she come to the funeral home, but she also came to the hospice facility during my wife's stay there.

People may complain about our postal workers, but our carrier gives us friendly service every day.

I feel she went above and beyond to help me and my family during this difficult time in our lives.

Carlo W. Carone
Francis Avenue


Executive raises seem out of line
Your April 10 article "First Energy gave executives raises of 8-37% in 2010" reported that Anthony J. Alexander, president and chief executive officer of First Energy Corp., received a total compensation package of $8.9 million — an increase of 25 percent from his $7.1 million salary package in 2009.

Mark T. Clark, executive vice president and chief financial officer, and Gary R. Leidich, executive vice president and president of FirstEnergy Generation, were also well compensated.

I am sure our bills will increase to meet their pay increases. Do they also receive discounts on their electrical usage?

Gloria J. Gilcher
Kunkle, Ohio


Cuts should begin with Congress
Members of Congress should take a cut in their pay, health insurance, pensions, and perks. They are quick to cut anything that will help the average person to survive.

All of us, whether we're working, unemployed, or displaced from a job or home, should flood Congress with letters, calls, and e-mails, urging lawmakers to let budget cuts begin with their benefits.

Whenever I go to the gas station or to the store to buy food or clothing, I wonder where the price hikes will end. Everyone is getting hit hard.

We should make our voices heard. We should contact Speaker of the House John Boehner, since he is from Ohio, and any other lawmaker you think you can get the attention of. If they are contacted enough, perhaps they might start listening.

Who pays their wages? Who pays their health insurance? Who pays for their pensions? We do.

Let them know you want them to begin cutting their personal budgets first.

Nancy Ahrens
Maumee


Hospital staff work too many hours
Since St. Luke's Hospital and ProMedica are health-care providers, the best interest of their employees should be one of their top priorities, since the staff is responsible for the care of the patients. Your April 9 article "Working overtime worsens heart risk" leaves me wondering whether that is a priority for them.

They have put their staffs on three 12-hour shifts and, because of the shortage of nurses, require them to be on-call four times a month. After working a 12-hour shift, a nurse may have to work four more hours in some cases. How can that employee function effectively?

Whose best interest is at heart here? It seems that neither the nurse nor the patient is being considered.

Dorothy M. Falbo
Colony Drive


Consider choices that voters have
Consider my product because it is cheaper or better than other such products.

Or consider my product because it's made by workers protected from competition from other workers. This is the choice of consumers.

Consider my candidacy because I am aligned with those who pay for government but with no special concern for those paid by government.

Or consider my candidacy because I support public employee unions and will prefer them over just plain taxpayers.

This is the choice of voters.

Peter S. Miller
Marin Dive


Recall governor? Where do I sign?
In response to your article about the proposed recall of Gov. John Kasich ("Governor's dismal ratings prompt lawmakers to seek recall of Kasich," April 4): Where and when can I sign the petition?

Ed Seary
N. Kennison Drive