When school levies fail, who really pays the price?

When school levies fail, who really pays the price?
EDITOR:
This letter concerns the recent failure of the renewal levies for the Jackson-Milton schools. Why did these levies fail? I've heard many reasons but the most often repeated reason I've heard is the low scores on the proficiency tests.
A lot of people are blaming the teachers for the low scores. They say the teachers are not doing a very good job of educating the students. There's only one problem with this reasoning. How do we explain the 20 percent of the students that fly through the 4th, 6th and even 9th grade tests? Many passing as 8th graders. Since all the students have the same teachers, the only explanation must be that 20 percent of the kids are just a lot smarter than the rest. I don't believe this for a minute and no one else should either.
If you happen to be a parent of one of the students that are struggling with the tests, take a look around your house tonight. Is your child's room full of books and magazines or Game Boy, Play Stations or even a cell phone? If they are having a hard time in school, don't be afraid to limit their time on the fun stuff. Just because the Supreme Court took discipline out of the schools doesn't mean we can't discipline our children at home.
Not one single teacher took a cut in pay, was given time off or lost their job because you voted no on the renewal levies. The only ones who will suffer are the students. The cutbacks that will be imposed will affect them more than any teacher. Is this fair to the students? Absolutely not!
The way the schools are funded in Ohio was declared unconstitutional years ago. Gov. Taft had four years to address this problem and from what I can see, he's done nothing. Since he was just re-elected I can't see anything happening for another four years. Don't punish the children by voting down the levies. Please vote yes on the renewal levies next time.
JIM SPENCER
Lake Milton
Kindly cop fishes kitten from dangerous spot
EDITOR:
On Halloween night, someone dropped off a gray tiger kitten. During the next day, unknown to anyone, the kitten, which was probably cold, took refuge in our open garage.
At 3 p.m. the same day, our stray cat alerted us to our parked auto and we heard a few meows. We opened the hood and found, to our surprise, a very small kitten lodged in the engine compartment.
After many unsuccessful tries, we called the Liberty police. A few minutes later, a policeman arrived and tried every, which way to grasp this tiny kitten. He finally, after one hour, pulled the kitten free -- saved by a Liberty policeman who didn't give up.
At that moment, he told me his name, but in all the confusion, I had to inquire further. The officer's name is Mick Janouick.
Many thanks to a dedicated police officer of Liberty Township.
LOUIS POMPONIO
Youngstown
It's not a rag doll, Michael
EDITOR:
I am writing in regard to the Nov. 20 article, "Pop star: I made a mistake." I think that this article is heartbreaking.
I don't know how a parent could dangle his child over a four-story balcony and just call it a mistake. At any time, the baby could have slipped from his arms and fallen four stories to the ground, resulting in critical injuries or even death. This is a child and Michael Jackson treats him as if he was a trophy, waving the child to the crowd.
I think that his child should be taken off of him until he learns how to show some kind of respect to his child. He should stop treating the baby like a rag doll. If Michael Jackson was here in the United States he would be charged with child abuse, and his child would be taken off him. Michael would have to go to parenting classes to show him how to treat his child. The child would remain in foster care until he was able to prove he was ready to have his child back.
JASON DAVIS
Diamond