Why keep attacking way to help addicts?
I've been trying to understand why The Sun continues to beat up on buprenorphine, a medication that is showing some real promise in treating drug addiction ("Strategies to control bupe abuse outlined," Feb. 23).
Where is the other side of the story? What about the citizens of Baltimore who are being helped through the treatment model developed by the city Health Department's buprenorphine initiative?
Why not tell us more about those who are in the process of recovering from their heroin addiction through participation in this program, which not only administers the medication but requires attendance at counseling sessions to help deal with the psychological and social damage caused by years of drug addiction?
How about educating readers about the profound damage to our culture when the lives of thousands are destroyed by drug addiction and its related risks, including HIV infection, hepatitis, overdose death and criminal activity?
We need to move beyond moralizing about this seemingly intractable problem, and take advantage of advances in medical treatment.
Buprenorphine is offering new hope in the treatment of heroin addiction.
Linda Bluth
Baltimore
Oldfields School still can flourish
The Sun's article regarding the crisis at Oldfields School failed to point out how many girls have benefited from their Oldfields experience ("Oldfields head quits amid financial crisis," Feb. 23).
As a graduate of Oldfields School, I am deeply saddened by the school's possible closing.
Oldfields has always held a special place in my heart and was instrumental in my social, emotional and academic development.
I certainly hope that Oldfields alumnae and the local community will pull together to help guide this wonderful school into the future and mimic the school's motto - "largeness of heart."
Under new leadership and a new vision, Oldfields can not only be saved but flourish.
Ilana Feldberg Adelman
New York
Work-to-rule wrong protest for teachers
As a father and a grandfather whose children have benefited from graduating from excellent Baltimore County schools, I am deeply concerned about our teachers having to make threats to obtain a salary increase ("Job actions approved by Baltimore County teachers," Feb. 22).
At the same time, the Baltimore County teachers union must have a more dignified way to represent the teachers than by making plans that include demonstrations and having teachers refuse assignments that go beyond their contracted workday.
Starting a work-to-rule job action and refusing to conduct after-school activities that are not part of their contract to prove teachers deserve pay raises will only cause ill will among parents and students.
The most important part of a teacher's job is establishing a good rapport with his or her students.
To jeopardize that relationship with callous union tactics will only destroy such valuable relationships.
Walter Boyd
Baltimore
Ratings don't drive proper public radio
The purpose of public radio is to make airtime available for worthwhile programs that do not draw enough listeners to compete for advertisers. The Marc Steiner Show was a stellar example of just such a program ("A perfect public radio storm," Feb. 22).
I have donated money to public radio for years to help enable stations to air valuable programs not popular enough to be supported by advertising.
By firing the host of a popular and widely praised radio program because of a decrease in ratings, the management of WYPR has shown it does not deserve my financial support.
It has established that ratings are the basis for its programming decisions.
And that is an unprincipled departure from the guiding principles of public radio.
Eileen Franch
Baltimore
Use scarce resources to aid legal residents
The in-state tuition issue roils on in Annapolis and in letters to the editor ("A tuition break for immigrants?" Feb. 25).
Both sides present compelling arguments concerning extending lower-rate tuition to illegal immigrants. There is little disagreement that a college education is valuable to individuals and the community at large.
However, I haven't heard much said concerning the costs and economic consequences of expanding eligibility for in-state tuition.
Taxpayers subsidize the cost of each in-state student, as the true cost of a state college education is much higher than the in-state tuition rates.
Consequently, for every illegal immigrant who pays the in-state tuition rate, one less legal resident can receive this valuable benefit.
If money were unlimited, it would be wonderful to grant an inexpensive college education to all.
But Maryland still faces a budget shortfall, and our scarce resources should primarily benefit the citizens who pay for them.
Melvin Barnhart
Randallstown
No public benefits for lawbreakers
The writer of a recent letter asks, "Are we saying that we want undocumented immigrant students to become dropouts who will never be able to earn a good living?" ("A tuition break for immigrants?" letters, Feb. 25).
My answer is: We, at least I, want illegal immigrants to go back where they came from.
If they want to come to the United States legally and follow the rules legal immigrants follow, then I have no problem giving these immigrants the in-state tuition rate.
But as long as they are here in violation of our laws, they are not, and should not be, entitled to any breaks from the government at all.
Kenneth Day Hershberger
Baltimore
A vote for Nader is a vote for McCain
Let's be clear: Ralph Nader equals Sen. John McCain ("Nader making third-party bid for presidency," Feb. 25). And voting for Mr. Nader will help Mr. McCain.
Mr. Nader saw no difference between Al Gore and George W. Bush in 2000; I see none between him and Mr. McCain in 2008.
If the members of the Green Party, which has endorsed Mr. Nader in earlier elections, care about the issues important to the party rather than about Mr. Nader's ego, they should vote Democratic and encourage Mr. Nader to pull out.
J. Andrew Smith
Bloomfield, N.J.
Kudos to city youths who taste privation
What a wonderful surprise to see an article featuring good news about city teenagers ("Having a taste of how it feels to go hungry," Feb. 24).
Kudos to these young people and to their parents and their ministers for being such good role models for others and for living out their beliefs.
It is a ray of hope to know that there are people quietly doing good daily even as we are inundated with horror stories of drugs and murder.
Rose Mary Albright
Reisterstown