Private school outclasses public, charter schools

Private school outclasses public, charter schools
EDITOR:
DeAnna Hardwick's response to the recent revelation of Eagle Heights Academy's Ohio State Proficiency Exam scores bordered on comic relief if the impending realities were not so tragic: "Overall we're hanging with them [i.e., Youngstown public schools] pretty tough." Put in common parlance that means that Eagle Heights is almost to the "excellence" of a school district with the lowest possible academic rating given by the state education department, "academic emergency." This is hardly an achievement.
The charter school experiment utilizing the children of Youngstown as laboratory specimens has been an absolute disaster with far reaching implications as The Vindicator clearly noted, "Children who can't read in fourth grade are unlikely to do well in sixth grade or ninth grade or in college or on the job. And that should concern every person who cares about the future of Ohio" (Dec. 12, 2001). Parents, what are your children's futures worth? Don't your children deserve more? It's time for the school voucher system.
Youngstown public schools are not able to deliver a quality education as measured by state proficiency exams, and charter schools fare, across the state, significantly worse. But look at New Hope Academy.
Compare the results of the recent Ohio proficiency exams and ask a simple question, "Is my child worth it?" Let's add a new column to The Vindicator's article of June 21 and see for yourself who is really "hanging tough," not against a midget but against the best school in the area:
EagleLegacyCityNewHeightsschoolsHope
Fourth grade tests
Writing48415683
Reading22113275
Math2263167
Citizenship34113575
Science2262783
Sixth grade tests
Writing65596882
Reading1402345
Math56219
Citizenship22123755
Science1302945
It is time to invest in our children's future. It is time to invest in Youngstown's future. It is time to invest in Ohio's future. Demand a giant of an education for your child, not a midget.
REV. ROBERT F. SHONHOLZ
Boardman
Intelligent design should be taught only as religion
EDITOR:
Evolution is as factual as the theory of gravity. Evolution is descent with modification. New breeds of animals used for man's benefit are the product of evolution. New varieties of plants which give man more pleasure in gardening and consuming are the products of evolution. New discoveries of drugs through evolution give doctors the means to cure illnesses. As one scientist has stated, "Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution." The most basic premise of evolution is that living things (plants, animals, microbes) have evolved over time; old organisms lead to new ones. In this respect evolution is factual; the fossil record proves that.
Intelligent design is not science. There is no scientific support for the concept of intelligent design. In order for intelligent design to be included in science courses it must be measurable and quantifiable. It must be testable or it is not science. Intelligent design is religious in nature or at least supernatural in theory.
Intelligent design would be a good subject for a course in comparative religion or comparative world cultures. Intelligent design deals with the supernatural whereas science deals with the natural. Science and intelligent design are not compatible. There is no evidence for intelligent design for peer review. Intelligent design should not be taught as science.
ROBERT E. HOPKINS
Hubbard
Thanks to McKelvey, kids have playground
EDITOR:
It gives me great pleasure to see the playground on Midlothian Boulevard is being used by so many happy children.
This playground almost didn't happen because an out-of-town company wanted to build a small plaza with a grocery store, drugstore, etc., but citizens from the 7th Ward strongly opposed it. We had two meetings that were well attended (standing room only). Mayor McKelvey attended the second meeting. He listened to the people, and asked, "How many people oppose this idea?" When all hands went up except for a few, he ended that meeting with: "The people do not want this -- just drop it"
Thank you very much to Mayor Mc Kelvey from all of us in the 7th Ward.
DOLORES TESTA
Youngstown
Where would we be without electricity?
EDITOR:
We take so many things for granted that when we don't have them, we are really lost. The electricity was out at our home on Saturday for 21/2 hours and I thought I was not going to survive.
I hate to admit this, but I an so spoiled with the air conditioning everywhere that I am lost without it. Not just the air conditioning, but the garage opener, the stove, and refrigerator and of course no lights. Candlelight doesn't cut it. Thank you Ohio Edison for getting the electricity on again and I won't ever complain about the high cost of electricity. I am eternally grateful for this convenience that I cannot do without.
I think about how people survived in the pioneer days. Well, this country couldn't have been populated with people like me, I can tell you that. I am officially a whimp.
PAT ZOCCALI
Warren
Don't pay godless judges
EDITOR:
After hearing of the two judges who declared that the phrase "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance violates the Constitution, I had an idea. Let's just have the money for their salaries kept by the government instead of being paid to them.
After all, why would these two people want to be paid in a currency that bears the phrase, & quot;In God We Trust & quot;?
BOB HOGUE
Boardman
Mourns Ann Landers' loss
EDITOR:
I'm writing in regard to Ann Landers passing. I was saddened because I always enjoyed reading her column and will miss her articles very much.
I'm writing from Heritage Manor home for the aged. May she rest in peace.
ANN PATRON
Youngstown