Not enough vouchers or space to go around for Southern 0) students
The environment at Southern High School is unacceptable, but Gregory Kane's "Vouchers couldn't damage Southern High education" (Nov. 1) is dead wrong in stating that vouchers are the perfect solution.
Here's why. It is unrealistic to think that private school space exists for more than a handful of Southern's students. And frankly, most, if not all, private schools wouldn't even take the troublemakers. Vouchers might help a few motivated students escape, but that leaves behind hundreds, if not thousands of students still fearing Stairwells 5 and 6, the first floor and the eruption of fights.
As Mr. Kane states, parents want a safe, clean, Philistine-free environment for their children. They can and should be able to get it at Southern and every other Baltimore City public school.
Mr. Kane should take note of the comments of a parent whose daughter now attends Southern, regarding a suggestion made to send her daughter to a nearby county public school in "School officials grapple for control," (Oct. 31): "Why should I have to send my daughter away to get an education?"
Job No. 1 should be to fix Southern the right way. Schools chief Robert Booker must back up with action his announcement for zero-tolerance policy for violence and disruptive students.
The "fix" also requires small class sizes, more qualified teachers, a curriculum based on high academic standards and extra help for failing students.
Marietta English
Baltimore
The writer is president of The Baltimore Teachers Union.
Angelos wrongly enriched by litigation 'gravy train'
Peter G. Angelos is again riding the litigation gravy train to reap a windfall. ("Maryland to join tobacco settlement," Nov. 21).
The potential for a $600 million fee for Angelos, out of funds supposedly destined for victims of smoking, is sickening. There can be no justification for fees of this magnitude except insatiable, boundless greed and, given his record, perhaps a high degree of arrogance.
L. William Hott
% Shepherdstown, W. Va.
Toll dollars helping pay for Bay Bridge improvements
In a letter to the editor ("Are Bay Bridge tolls used for its upkeep?" Nov. 5), Ted Knowles expressed concern about rust he observed on the William Preston Lane Jr. Memorial (Chesapeake Bay) Bridge and questioned how toll dollars collected at this facility are used.
Toll dollars at the authority's seven facilities, including the Bay Bridge, are pooled to pay for maintenance, operation and capital improvements to all these facilities and are being used to refurbish the Bay Bridge. Last summer, the authority began the first phase of a five-year, $76 million project to clean and paint the eastbound span. Strict environmental guidelines for removing the original lead paint and doing the work at off-peak traffic times to minimize disruption to our customers add to the substantial cost of the work.
Although the rust spots make the 46-year-old bridge look less attractive, they have not weakened its structural integrity. The new zinc-based paint will protect the steel structure and restore the aesthetic quality that Marylanders associate with the Chesapeake Bay crossing.
For our customers' convenience, we have established a toll-free number for questions about the painting project and for up-to-the-minute traffic conditions at the bridge: 1-888-288-1560.
Thomas L. Osborne
Baltimore
The writer is executive secretary of the Maryland Transportation Authority.
Lack of understanding about attention disorder
The letter "Maryland's low Ritalin use shows discerning parents" (Nov. 20) demonstrates a total lack of knowledge and understanding of the disorders known as attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
The writer obviously has never known a child or family that has dealt with the associated problems.
I find the writer's notion that the use of Ritalin -- prescribed by physicians for children diagnosed with ADD or ADHD -- places these children in a perpetual drugged state as nightmarish to be a cavalier statement.
I wonder if one could or should extrapolate from the letter that men who take Viagra for sexual dysfunction or women who take hormones during and after menopause are also in a perpetual drugged state.
The original article, "Ritalin use low in Md. schools" (Nov. 15), suggests that that missed diagnoses are the reason for the low use of this drug in our state. Parents often become accustomed to their child's behavior, and often do not recognize problems for what they are.
Parents may find ways to deal with their children inside the home, but when children enter school, they are not in controlled environments.
Children must behave in an acceptable way so that everyone in the class class will learn. If after extensive testing and observation, a diagnosis of ADD or ADHD is made, why not use what has been proven to work?
C. R. Wilson
Sparks
No more minds will change, vote on impeachment now
In watching the House Judiciary Committee hearings, you know that neither side is convincing the other of anything. The Democrats and Republicans are partisan to the nth degree.
It seems to me that the smart thing for the Democrats to do would be to call for a vote as to whether or not the president should be impeached. If the vote is not for impeachment, the hearings would end. If for impeachment, it would go to the House and once and for all it would be ended.
Enough is enough.
Sydney M. Cohen
Baltimore
Kennedy to Clinton is comical comparison
Michael Olesker's column "Private lives made public have made us too knowing" (Nov. 22) has got to be tongue in cheek.
Apart from their out-of-control sexual behavior, about the only similarity between John F. Kennedy and President Clinton is that in the investigation of Kennedy's assassination, and Mr. Clinton's Whitewater, Travelgate, Filegate, and Chinagate, there is much more in all of them than has so far met our eyes.
As for the rest of it, it is more a study of comical contrasts: Mr. Clinton's elitist avoidance of the draft to Kennedy's valiant service in World War II, Hillary Clinton to Jacqueline Kennedy, Monica Lewinsky to Marilyn Monroe.
It's like comparing Camelot to Dogpatch.
Dave Reich
Timonium
'Obsessive' counsel Starr not getting desired results
This appearance before the House Judiciary Committee, in his desperate, obsessive pursuit to convince faltering committee Republicans and a weary public that President Clinton should be impeached, independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr painfully learned that the squandering of tens of millions of dollars does not guarantee a successful result.
Leon Peace Ried
Baltimore
'Juniority,' also interferes with ability to drive cars
The Motor Vehicle Administration has already determined, in regard to junior drivers, that their juniority interferes with their ability to drive a motor vehicle.
NTC It has therefore instituted a series of graduated driving permits which the juniors must pass before they are turned loose on the highways and byways by themselves at all times of the day and night.
Regarding the proposal for seniors: Sign me up. And as soon as I can find a place to live, in my neighborhood, where I can walk to all the amenities that daily life requires, I will gladly sell my 16-year-old car with its 188,000 miles and turn in my license. Not that I consider myself a poor driver. There are just too many drivers on the road now.
Russ Seese
Aberdeen
Pub Date: 11/27/98