Better parenting = better students

Better parenting = better students

I read the article in The Vindi- cator about cracking down on crime, and what caught my eye was a comment about better education. The schools are there, the teachers are there, but do the students come to learn?

Quit blaming bad education on the teachers when the blame should start at home. The parents need to get more involved, start helping their children with their homework assignments. I think the parents should have to sign all homework assignments before they are brought back to school, grades 1 through 12.

My son graduated from Chaney in 1996, and back then kids were drinking water from baby bottles in the classroom and combing their hair while the teacher was teaching. I’m sure it is worst now.

The teacher is there to teach, but if the students aren’t there to learn you could have the best school there is with the same results. If the students aren’t taught the basics at home, don’t expect our teachers to pull a miracle.

It’s time for the parents to take back their children and you will see better educated children and less crime.

Andy Pappagallo Sr., Mineral Ridge

Support for sales tax shaken

There has been much said re- cently about the county commissioners’ decision to send the workers home after the earthquake. The commissioners and many other people have said how right it was to send them home, but I do not agree. This was the only place where people were sent home for the rest of the day after the quake.

The commissioners have said over the past few years that they are looking out for the taxpayers of the county, but paying people for work not done does not make their case sound true. I have been a supporter of the sales tax for years because I believe that you must pay for what you want, but I also believe in getting value for my money. So because of the commissioners decision to pay workers for work not done, I will find it hard the next time I am asked to vote yes on a sales tax for the county.

James D. Vaughn II, Youngstown

Looking beyond the oil spill

The oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico is an alarming wake-up call. Beyond the implications for regulation, safety and disaster preparedness, this human and ecological catastrophe signals to us the perils of a culture that continuously pushes the boundaries of Earth’s capacity. In a recent address to the nation, President Obama reminded us that oil is a finite resource. Indeed, all of Earth is finite, and learning to live responsibly on our planet will require that we grow accustomed to living with enough, rather than insisting on always more.

An economy that relies so heavily on staggering quantities of fossil fuels cannot be called “responsible.” Our relentless drive for production and consumption — even at the expense of human lives, communities and ecosystems — cannot be called “safe.” The devastating, wide-reaching and long-lasting effects of this crisis make it clear that our present course cannot be sustained.

We must use this event to insist on the development of eco-friendly energy sources by federal, state and local governments, industry and in our daily lives.

Sister Nancy Dawson OSU, president

Ursuline Sisters of Youngstown Leadership Team

Sister Susan Schorsten HM, president

Sisters of the Humility of Mary Leadership Team

A spirit of optimism at YSU

The new administration of Dr. Cynthia Anderson as president of Youngstown State University is a breath of fresh air.

It has been reflected by a sense of renewed optimism and respect on campus and in our community.

Most recently a giant step forward has been taken toward the completion of funding for the Watson-Tressel Training Site. Some of us who have worked hard to get the Watts Center up and running were concerned the last administration was going to delay its construction for too long.

We are especially grateful to Anthony Cafaro, Sr. for his $1 million contribution toward the completion of this important facility and for the confidence he has thus shown to Dr. Anderson’s administration.

Moreover we are strongly reminded of the local families who have and are continuing to contribute to YSU and to our community — the families of Cafaro, DeBartolo, Lariccia, Watson and Tressel and so many others. Their strong belief in and support of education demonstrates a high caliber of civic conscience and concern.

Harry Meshel, Youngstown

The writer is a former state senator and is a member of the YSU Board of Trustees.