School board needs to adopt more active role
Let me see if I understand this correctly. If a Baltimore City public school employee quits without going through standard procedures, that person's chances of re-employment within the system is zero. But it's OK for the school system to fire the very people who can least afford to be without work just weeks prior to the holidays ("School budget woes create prospect of more layoffs in city," Dec. 11).
And furthermore, no one knows how the deficit spending that has caused the budget problem occurred. This simply adds to the distrust of parents and employees.
I disagree with Patricia L. Welch, the school board chairwoman, who does not feel it is necessary to "point out who did it." It is more than necessary; it is imperative that those responsible be held accountable.
How long have we been hearing about budgetary incompetencies in the school system in Baltimore? It seems like forever to me, and I have been employed by the system for more than 25 years.
I recommend that the board make it their business to become better informed and more pro-active participants in the education of the children of Baltimore.
Sheila B. Eller
Baltimore
The writer is a retired speech-language clinician who now works as a mentor for new teachers.
Front-line educators do the most for kids
I was outraged to read that so many front-line educators were let go because of budget troubles that have now occurred for the second straight year ("Schools to lay off 396 'temp' workers," Dec. 10).
Why penalize low-wage people who work directly educating our children, and not fire the high-paid executives who neglect to properly forecast their expenses? Who has more effect on our kids: administrators on North Avenue or teacher's assistants?
There is something fundamentally wrong when school helpers are dismissed and upper-level incompetence is tolerated.
Tim Connolley
Baltimore
Maintaining quality of Stoneleigh school
The Sun's article "Assessing the power of a discarded test" (Dec. 14) totally misrepresented my concerns about the impact of the Stoneleigh Elementary School's third-grade MSPAP score.
I never mentioned or implied a concern about the impact of this single score on the property values in Stoneleigh or the communities served by this school. I do not believe that this one score will have any impact on property values.
But a healthy public school is critical to all the neighborhoods it serves. So when there is a dramatic and uncharacteristic drop in a test score, there is cause for concern. And it is important to determine the cause - not because of any perceived impact on property values but because of the needs of the students.
We do not lack confidence in Stoneleigh Elementary School. My friends, neighbors and I are only concerned that its high quality of education is maintained and that the students receive the education they deserve.
Stephen Lafferty
Baltimore
Acquitting Stokes sends wrong signal
The jury has spoken for the people, and we apparently believe that molestation is adequate justification for attempted murder ("Stokes found not guilty," Dec. 17).
Now I am confident that Dontee D. Stokes' acquittal on charges of attempted murder will empower other victims to follow his example. Among them will surely be some better marksmen.
Then what?
Thaddeus Paulhamus
Baltimore
After reading of the verdict in the Dontee D. Stokes case, I find it no surprise that the warped theory of "two wrongs make a right" is alive and well in Baltimore.
D. Dominick
Towson
Dontee D. Stokes is acquitted of felony assault, among other charges, after shooting the Rev. Maurice J. Blackwell three times with a handgun, and some citizens of Baltimore rejoice, praising God. What kind of a reaction is that?
Of those values in which Baltimoreans should "Believe," surely personal responsibility ranks among the most important.
Lori Guess
Baltimore
Don't let merger plan get off the ground
What the trial balloon from the governor-elect's transition team about a merger of the Department of Natural Resources with the Department of the Environment needs is a well-aimed arrow to pierce it before it gets any further aloft ("Ehrlich transition concerns activists," Dec. 15).
Ajax Eastman
Baltimore
Barbs at prosecutor miss their target
I read with disbelief the comments in Gregory Kane's column about Assistant State's Attorney Bethany Durand ("Victims, beware: In this city it's all about the young perps," Dec. 15).
As a private attorney who represents juvenile offenders, I have worked across the aisle from Ms. Durand on many occasions. And Mr. Kane's characterization of Ms. Durand is so off-base as to be unrecognizable.
I have always found her to be most respectful, hard-working, insightful and conscientious - even at the end of long days, even in the most difficult of cases and the most stressful of situations.
If the public has a problem with the juvenile laws, that's what the voting booths are for. However, the public should realize that its interests are extremely well served by Ms. Durand.
Tamar Alexia Fleishman
Baltimore
Limit the wagers at slot machines
If slot machines are in the future for Maryland race tracks, I suggest legislators look to limit the amount a player can bet each day ("Slots could speed up Pimlico renovation," Dec. 17).
This is done on the riverboats in Missouri. The use of a player's card to activate a slot machine - with a daily betting limit - appeals to me.
Andrew L. Mackenzie
Baltimore
Clinton didn't spark reform of welfare
The writer of the letter "Clinton-basher misses the mark" (Dec. 5) asks the question, "But wasn't it Mr. Clinton who initiated welfare reform?"
The answer is no. The Republicans initiated it; most Democrats opposed it strenuously, and Mr. Clinton vetoed it twice before signing the third welfare reform bill placed on his desk.
And the only reason Mr. Clinton signed the third version was that the presidential election of 1996 was only a few months away and he didn't want to take even the slightest chance that not signing welfare reform would hurt him in the election.
Jay Ziegler
Catonsville