Tearing down old schools in Warren isn't the answer

Tearing down old schoolsin Warren isn't the answer
EDITOR:
It seems to me that the time has come for some serious discussions about the future of education in Warren. I must admit that I am personally opposed to tearing down buildings just because $170 million is available for constructing new buildings. Will these new buildings improve the quality of education for our current students and future generations? In my opinion, that is the question that needs to be addressed before any decisions about spending $170 million are made.
Quite frankly, architects design buildings. They are not educators. Therefore, it is not up to the architects to say a building is capable of providing quality education. I have worked with architects for 30 years. They listen to the client's needs, then they design a facility that meets those needs. Educators educate; architects design.
Perhaps some of our schools are old and outdated; so was our courthouse and thousands of buildings like it across the United States. Some examples are the Capitol building in Columbus, the Garfield Home in Mentor, the Arcade in Cleveland, St. Patrick's in New York, the Statute of Liberty, the Washington Monument, Mount Vernon (the home of our first president), and Ellis Island. I could go on and on, and so could you. More serious discussions are needed before we tear down any buildings.
As I indicated above, it is time for some serious discussions about the future of education in Warren. Do buildings educate? I do not think so. What is really needed to ensure a quality education for all of our young people? I do not believe constructing new buildings is the only answer. I do not believe we should leave this decision to five people. The stakes are high. We are talking about the lives of thousands of young people. Again, the questions to be answered are: Will new buildings make a difference? Or, should programs directed to educating parents and enhancing teacher training be implemented with some of these funds? The $170 million plus is a large sum of money. What are the guarantees? What will be the return on this investment?
Abraham Lincoln said: "You can't escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today." As parents and grandparents, we are responsible for the tomorrow of our children.
CHARLES H. BENTZ
Warren
Arguments over how lifebegan lead to a new theory
EDITOR:
I certainly hope you've been as entertained as I have by the vehement argument going on between the creationists and the evolutionists in the pages of The Vindicator recently. Each has done such a good job of discrediting the other that they've finally convinced me that there's not a shred of truth in either of their arguments. So I've adopted a much more believable theory as to how we got here. You'll no doubt want to jump on my bandwagon.
Long ago, an advanced civilization lived on a small planet in a far corner of the universe. These people had learned to love and respect one another and were there-for able to live together in peace and harmony. Unfortunately, however, a small number among them just couldn't get a grip on the peace and harmony thing and became a disruptive force.
Characterized by hatred, bigotry and greed, they developed violent and destructive tendencies. Others tried to get them to change, but these damaging qualities were somehow part of their nature and they just weren't able to rise above them. Finally the good people of that happy little planet had no choice but to round up all the troublemakers, put them on a rocket ship, and shoot them out into space toward a distant galaxy known as the Milky Way. The rocket settled on a poor, unsuspecting planet called Earth. The rest, as they say, is history.
I'm currently conducting extensive research to prove this theory, but as you know, research can get costly. Please send your generous contribution now and avoid the rush. I'll send you a nice thank-you note.
JOHN ZEDAKER
Poland