Homeless people have hard lives, deserve respect
Homeless people have hard lives, deserve respect
EDITOR:
The Nov. 17 article in your newspaper, "Learning to relate to the homeless & quot; by Roger G. Smith hit home for me, reminding me of my brother's case in 1933. My brother received a serious head injury while on leave from the Army. The Army disclaimed responsibility and being an orphan he had no one to help him. His head injury caused him to black out every now and then. Many times he was reported to the police because they considered him a drunken bum. My brother was placed in a hospital in California where he finally died.
Last Sunday, a homeless man was walking the streets of Struthers. Thinking to help him, I offered to get him food. He quietly said, & quot;No, naw, naw, no food & quot;. When I took out my wallet he said, & quot;Don't give me money, don't give me money. & quot; Then he wandered on down the street saying very softly, "I'll be alright, I'm just going for a walk."
My congratulations to Amy Cossentino, the assistant director of the Honors Program, and the wonderful work of the young people at YSU who tried to get a clearer look at the plight of people who are different than what is considered normal.
RUTH B. SALVATORE
Struthers
Sharper than a serpent's tooth it is to have anunthankful student
EDITOR:
I am writing in response to the Nov. 17 letter from a fellow 2001 graduate of Boardman High School, which expressed a significant lack of gratitude for the Boardman schools. After reading the writer's opinion, I felt the need to provide my unsolicited response.
I thank the Boardman Local School District for the outstanding education given to me. Boardman does its very best to fulfill the needs of every type of student by offering a wide variety of academic classes.
The academics at Boardman are of the highest caliber. Recently, Boardman received an "excellent" rating by the state of Ohio for successfully achieving 27 out of 27 various academic criteria. Not included in this rating are the award-winning music, speech, drama, art, and athletic programs at Boardman. The school system also offers an excellent variety of classes and extracurricular activities. Involvement in many of these activities gives Boardman students an edge in the college admission process.
The writer made the comment that Boardman does not have an "eye toward the future." However, the intent of the levy was to improve the excellence of education in Boardman. Many of the complaints are related to funding. It takes financial support to make improvements. Boardman is continuously trying to make the quality of education stronger, but thesupport of the community is needed to attain this goal. Demeaning the school system that helped the writer of that letter get where she is today is not the way to help current students gain more opportunities. With more support from the community, Boardman can reach new levels of quality in its education.
Contrary to what the letter implies ("Boardman is a one-way ticket to Ohio's public colleges or jobs at GM at best,") a person does not have to attend an Ivy League college to achieve success. Boardman teachers encourage students to reach their full potential. What is best for each student varies from one person to another. Whether students choose to attend vocational schools, state universities, or private colleges after graduation, the education that they receive at Boardman will prepare them to pursue their desired career, whatever it may be.
As a mathematics major and flute performance major at Oberlin College and Conservatory, I can emphatically state that Boardman has done an exceptional job to prepare me for college.
It is unfair to have had the advantage of Boardman's excellent education and extracurricular opportunities, be accepted to Harvard, and then speak disparagingly of those who cared and helped along the way.
REBECCA DAVIDSON
Oberlin College and Conservatory
Oberlin, Ohio
Sam should take a look at downtown Youngstown
EDITOR:
Many Boardman and Mahoning Valley residents oppose the construction of a new Sam's Club in a wooded area on South Avenue. I would approve of the new store only on one condition: Do not build in Boardman, Build in downtown Youngstown.
To those who ask why, I say: Why not? At a recent rally, the local group ACTION stressed the importance of the suburbs uniting to help revitalize downtown Youngstown. On average, it takes approximately 20-25 minutes for Valley residents to make a certain destination in the Boardman area. It would take an equal or less amount of time traveling to the inner city. Youngstown is the heart and foundation of the Mahoning Valley.
Instead of being a follower and opening your business in Boardman, why not be a leader and build in Youngstown?
JASON KYLE
Canfield
Learning to be on time is one of life's best lessons
EDITOR:
I am responding to the letter "suspension isn't correct punishment for tardiness" in the Nov. 10 Vindicator. The writer states that suspension is an unfair punishment for being tardy. I feel differently; I believe that it is a fair punishment because being on time is not an extremely difficult task.
Being on time is a very important thing in life, especially when you get a high paying job and a strict boss. I also think that it is good to learn this at a young age.
I missed the bus one time and my mom brought me in during first period. I went to the office and they gave me a pass to class and a detention. When I got home I simply told my mom to call the school and tell them what happened and the detention was revoked. I think it is a good thing that the school needs a legal guardian to call them. That will make sure that the kids are not skipping class.
That is why I believe that suspension is not an unfair punishment for being tardy numerous times. Because it teaches kids a lesson and if there is a valid excuse they will not get in trouble.
ERIC DUVALL
Diamond
Who pays for drug ads?
EDITOR:
I am one of the very fortunate 64-year-old senior citizens who take no medication, except for vitamin pills.
I am completely opposed to the government covering the cost of prescription drugs under Medicare.
One cannot watch TV or listen to radio for five minutes without being subjected to a barrage of prescription drug advertisements. Are the drug companies spending money on research or is it being spent on advertising? Why should the taxpayers pick up the tab for their commercials.
C. JAMES FELGER
McDonald