Let's put the focus back on education (07/03/07)

To the editor:

No building ever taught a child, ever made a person a good employee, or made a person return to Jay County.

If the energy wasted on pools, fitness rooms, corporation offices, auxiliary gymnasiums, and on additional Plans A and B were directed toward academics, perhaps 7 out of 10 Jay County schools might not have received such a degrading academic score.

Seventy percent of Jay schools received a Watch rating. This is next to the lowest rating you can get except being taken over by the State of Indiana.

Congrats to Bloomfield Elementary, General Shanks Elementary, and Pennville Elementary for your excellent scores. The teachers, parents, and students' performances show high standards of caring and hard work.

If the school board and administration sincerely wished to increase the academic level of all the children, they must put more emphasis on education and not brick and mortar and sports.

I have heard excuses and reasoning why inadequate and near failing academic scores are in the schools, and it is unacceptable. The parents and students deserve better. The taxpayers have not gotten the best bang for their buck in years, and it is time for the buck to stop here. Many issues must be resolved. Some are planned now but must be carried out if relevant.

The largest issue is not buildings or sports, it's education. Good solid reading, writing, and arithmetic will cure many problems. According to our history, very, very few of our kids will make the major leagues or earn a living in sports. Every adult will be required to have a better than average college education to exist in this greedy old world. Do most of the Jay County schools' academic scores or excuses give you hope for your children and grandchildren's future success?

We are seeking the vast numbers of petition carriers for a later date if the school board goes against Jay County property owners and voters. It will take large numbers of carriers getting signatures to defeat the Jay County School Board on this issue.

Jim R. Sanders

and Rex Carpenter

Portland

Planning

To the editor:

The Portland Citizens Police Academy is a not-for-profit organization. All proceeds from our projects are put back into the community.

This July Fourth, members will be selling kettle corn and peanuts along the parade route in Portland. We hope to see you all along the route.

Tom Kennedy

Portland

Bad odor

To the editor:

I am speaking out and expressing the feelings of numerous residents.

The subject of sewer gas seems to pop up all over town.

This problem affects several businesses throughout the city. It seems to get more intense when it rains. This creates a repulsive odor that forces the customers to vacate the businesses. It certainly can not be healthy.

I feel this may be a city problem that doesn't want to be approached. Surely something can be done.

Tommy Derringer

Portland[[In-content Ad]]