Children need books and librarians to give guidance in reading
I read with dismay your editorial on school libraries ("Empty library shelves are an embarrassment," June 15). It is shocking to learn that libraries are in such a hopeless mess, but urging citizens to donate money to buy books is throwing good money after bad.
Books do not a library make. Books are barely the beginning. Who will select and order them, catalog them, shelve them, mend them and work with teachers and students to identify books that support classroom projects and programs? Who will say, "Here's the perfect book for Bobby -- it's at his reading level, and I know he loves dogs"? Good librarians do these things -- and much more.
As a reading teacher, I relied upon librarians to help identify books my timid students could read and enjoy. They called these the "want to read" books. It took a long time to catch up on the skills necessary for them to tackle the "have to read" books they confronted in their classrooms. The "want to read" books kept them interested and feeling successful as readers and as people. I don't know what I would have done without the expertise of the librarian and access to the right books.
Children enjoy reading when they have books at their reading level on topics they care about. To teach the mechanics of reading, phonics instruction works best with kids who are auditory learners, whole language works well with visual learners. An instructional program that includes both should succeed with most students.
An elementary school without a librarian has no soul. A school library without books has no place in American education.
Susan Baukhages
Baltimore
Response was predictable to heroin maintenance idea
The reaction of politicians to the Hopkins scientist's proposal for a "heroin maintenance" study was entirely predictable. An understanding of the purpose and possibilities of the study required a few moments of thought and evaluation.
Since most people react emotionally to any action involving dangerous drugs, candidates for public office have to condemn any suggestion that an unemotional, serious look at the subject of addiction is worthwhile. This is especially true if it involves needle exchange or free drugs.
Imagine the criticism Ellen Sauerbrey could have aimed at Gov. Parris N. Glendening had he not condemned the idea.
Carleton W. Brown
Elkton
Endorsement from Taylor written on prohibited paper
Recently, Maryland House Speaker Casper Taylor endorsed the governor's re-election bid. He spoke of the "shared leadership" between him and Gov. Parris N. Glendening ("Taylor endorses Glendening, lauds two men's 'shared leadership,' " June 16).
Mr. Taylor has for years criticized the governor for ethical misconduct, yet apparently he fails to take to heart his own criticisms. The speaker endorsed Mr. Glendening on General Assembly letterhead, a violation of legislative ethics.
According to the Joint Committee on Legislative Ethics, "the official General Assembly stationery should not be used for campaign or fund-raising purposes." When questioned about his action, Mr. Taylor stated, "If I violated some kind of ethics guideline, I honestly violated it unintentionally."
I merely point to this latest example as a demonstration of abuse of power by Democrats during their rule in the legislature. Mr. Taylor has served in the House since 1975 and has been speaker since 1994. This is the same man who appointed a committee this year to look at the ethics code. He should know the rules governing ethical campaigns by memory.
I urge the voters to disregard Mr. Taylor's endorsement. His actions demonstrate that he is one of the many Democratic legislators who abuse their office to get what they want.
Joyce Lyons Terhes
Annapolis
The writer is chairwoman of the Maryland Republican Party.
State must answer the call from telecommunications
Enough "woe is me" editorials ("Ciena, we hardly knew ye," June 13).
Tellabs' acquisition of Ciena has nothing to do with the fact that Ciena is in Maryland or that Tellabs is in Illinois. It has everything to do with access to technology, increasing market share and meeting customer needs worldwide.
Tellabs is a very proud and successful company that is one of the premier telecom equipment manufacturing companies in the world today. The company was founded in Illinois more than 20 years ago, so it is not going anywhere.
It speaks volumes of the company's sensitivities that it has agreed that Ciena Chief Executive Officer Patrick Nettles, who becomes Tellabs' president and chief operating officer, will stay in Maryland. In fact, Ciena's operations in Linthicum have been designated as Tellabs' new optical networking center of excellence. This means that all the people and the technology stays in Maryland.
Maryland has never had a coherent policy toward the telecommunications industry. The telecom hotbeds are in New Jersey, northern Virginia, North Carolina, Texas and Illinois.
Maryland is missing a huge opportunity for economic development as the telecom market booms. The Glendening administration has not shown that telecom is a priority or that it has an interest in getting to know our home-grown companies better. Until it does, the scarce telecom expertise that is based in Maryland is more attractive to outsiders.
John Celentano
Owings Mills
We still don't know reason China invaded friend India
The editorial ("Nuclear sword over Kashmir," June 11) mentioned that four wars had been fought over Kashmir, one of them by China. The editorial leaves a wrong impression that China waged a war with India over Kashmir.
The fact of the matter is that China invaded India for reasons unknown even to this day. Before the invasion, India regarded China as a friend and looked to that country for inspiration. The border between the two countries was left unguarded by India.
Moreover, the country was so ill-prepared to defend itself that China could have marched on to New Delhi, the capital, without much opposition. Strange as it may seem, the Chinese suddenly stopped fighting and pulled their forces.
China flexed its muscle and in the process lost a friend. V.K.K. Menon, a cabinet member, was held responsible for keeping the Indians unprepared to confront the invading army. He was forced by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to resign.
Bail L. Rao
Pikesville
Owings Mills lost chance to have a 'bit of Columbia'
Contradictions abound in your account on the rapid growth of Owings Mills ("Owings Mills sees a growth spurt at 14," June 16).
It is favorably described as a planned community, like a Columbia village, having all the characteristics and necessities people want -- controlling sprawl, attracting corporations and jobs and becoming a viable alternative to disjointed development with potential to become a model suburb. I believe little of this.
It is negatively described as a bedroom community, possibly another wasteland with high housing densities and without a sense of identity. These I believe.
I live in an adjacent community and am unable to locate any schools, libraries, parks, playgrounds or trails. The lake was sacrificed for the trout in Red Run stream, but where are those trout today?
Offices, stores and housing were stuffed into cleared forest. Growth benefiting only developers, real estate agents and businesses do not make a livable town. What a shame to have lost the opportunity to have a "bit of Columbia" come to Baltimore County.
Nelson L. Hyman
Randallstown
Mowing moguls cut down their youthful competitors
In her article ("A way to earn mow money," June 12), Stacey Patton tells how youngsters can prosper by mowing lawns.
Well, not in our front and back yard or those of many of our neighbors. We haven't seen a school-ager with a mower for years. And for good reason. They have been usurped by older entrepreneurs who arrive in minivans or small trailers loaded with an array of dazzling equipment. This ranges from mowers powerful enough to slice down a stand of wheat to tiny edgers that in their effectiveness could double as barbers' clippers.
Faced with such stiff competition, our enterprising students will be better served by seeking employment in one of the white-collar alternatives.
Abner Kaplan
Baltimore
Pub Date: 6/22/98