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Letters To The Editor

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 21, 2007

We All Want An Edge

Let's get off the backs of the ball players and fess up: We all take "performing enhancing" stuff. From our caffeine "fixes" in the morning to "jump start" all systems to our glass of wine at dinner time to "aid" digestion. Then in between we eat bran cereal and a cranberry capsule for our plumbing, an aspirin to make our blood slippery, a Viactiv to nourish our bones, an Omega-3 for heart health, a multivitamin to make all these things work and a St John's Wort to keep us from being cranky. In addition, we have a Coca-Cola to prevent the mid-afternoon slump and a little alcoholic "drinky" at the end of the day to ease the day's stress.

Three cheers for the guy who wants to run faster, hit farther and throw harder. Perhaps we should all aspire to such excellence. Maybe George Mitchell should return to the Senate where little is expected and less is accomplished.

BETTY HALL

Palm Harbor

Congress Should Butt Out

As I sat in the doctor's office recently after your article on the sports players and the body enhancing drugs, a silly thought came to mind.

In my doctor's office there is information about Celebrex, Viagara, Premarin, Altace, Lipitor, Protonix and Nexium. Are these not all body enhancing drugs? How about something as simple as Advil or Aleve? They are for a different generation of people but still they are all body enhancing in one form or another. Daily vitamins and simple exercise can be body enhancing if done properly.

Isn't it time to tell Congress to stop messing in our personal lives and stick to real government?

MARY ALICE HALDEMAN

Riverview

Fitting Name For School

Regarding "School To Have Yankees Spirit" (Metro, Dec. 12):

Thank you and your staff for recognizing George Steinbrenner. Naming a new high school planned for Lutz after Steinbrenner will serve as a reminder of what this man and his family have done for the Tampa Bay area. He has given to all schools in the area, private as well as public, and all denominations.

Each year he has been there for all the children. Neither of our former "big hitters," the Bucs owners now or the Culverhouse clan, has done half as much as the Steinbrenners.

The Newman family salutes them!

ELAINE NEWMAN

Tampa

A Grueling Process

Regarding "Certified Teachers Are Top Of The Class" (Our Opinion, Dec. 10):

Thank you for spotlighting the "year-long, grueling process" teachers must endure to earn certification from the Nationally Board of Professional Teaching Standards. My wife is one of those "one out of every 10 board certified-instructors" who teaches math or science.

I must point out that the "$9,000 annual bonus" is not a given as stated in your editorial. Only half of that amount is "rewarded" to teachers who meet the national certification requirement. The other half of the bonus must be earned by mentoring other teachers aspiring to be nationally board certified for a minimum of 100 documented contact hours each year. I have had plenty of time to think about this issue as I have spent many evenings and weekends waiting for my wife to return from driving to other schools or other meeting places at her own expense so she could spend her time and energy with the many wonderful and talented educators going through this difficult process.

Lastly, were you aware that most nationally certified educators in Hillsborough County with a master's degree in educational leadership are subject to a significant reduction in pay if they leave the classroom and take a position as an assistant principle? Honestly, how smart is that?

GLEN KEMP

Brandon

Debatable Format

Regarding "Immigration Key In Spanish TV Debate" (Nation/World, Dec. 10):

I read that the Republican presidential candidates were debating on Univision TV at 7 p.m. Dec. 9. I have strong feelings on immigration reform so thought it would be appropriate for me to listen to the candidates face a Latino audience in Miami. I tuned in.

The dialogue was in Spanish so I could not understand the questions. The candidates spoke in English, but the Spanish interpretation blocked out their answers so I could not hear them. Oh, but what about closed captions?

I have Dish Network and went through the menus until I invoked closed caption. Guess what! The words that appeared on my screen were in Spanish, too.

What a sad day that an old American cannot listen to a debate for president of the United States without being able to understand Spanish.

BILL McQUARRIE

Wimauma

Systemic Abuse

Regarding "Questions Linger In Girl's Death" (front page, Dec. 13):

After reading the story regarding the tragic death of Rikka Pinckney, a special-needs child who was in the foster care system, I was horrified but, unfortunately, not totally shocked.

I am currently attempting to adopt a "special needs" child that is in the foster care system, and allegations regarding his mistreatment while in the system really concerned me. I feel that these agencies need to pay closer attention to the care being administered to these children. I hope to have him totally out of the system very soon so that he will be in a safe, loving and stable environment. I also pray that the remaining kids who are still in the system will receive a better level of care that they rightfully need and deserve.

DEON FLETCHER

Tampa

Don't Blame Bowden

Regarding "Official: Few At FSU Cheated" (Metro, Dec. 20):

Many years ago I was a student at Barnard College - the women's college of Columbia University. We were on the honor code. However, the students at Columbia were not. They had proctors present at their exams and still came up with ingenious ways of cheating. It is noteworthy and appropriate that no one blamed the dean of the college.

What has happened at FSU is disheartening, but please don't blame Bobby Bowden.

VIRGINIA KAUL

Tampa

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