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The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 8, 2008

Many Just Don't Care

Regarding "3 Area Schools Targeted For Closing" (front page, July 30):

I graduated from Middleton High School this year, so your article about MHS and other schools "closing down" caught my eye. I don't think parents and adults really know why my school has been getting D's each year. Many of the students just don't care about getting an education. They care more about getting a free lunch than paying attention in their classes. How do you teach a student who doesn't care? You can't.

If the students can't read by the time they're in high school, why would the high school take the blame? It's not their responsibility to teach kids how to read. It's the elementary schools that should be taking the heat.

Judging a high school solely on FCAT is probably the silliest thing one could do. Just because many students don't care about an education does not mean the school is bad. It takes responsibility to get good grades.

DANIEL KULAS

Tampa

Don't Blame The Schools

Why do we still put all of our criticisms where they are least responsible? I teach at a Title I school and we have better equipment, more access to training, and many other "perks" that other schools don't.

What we don't have are students who bring a pencil to school (or throw them away when we give them one). I average two parents on parent conference night (I have 130 students). We are told by the administration not to count homework too much because the students "won't do it anyway, so it will only hurt their grades." Unfortunately, this is true.

Yes, it is the student's fault. Yes, it is partly the parent's fault. And it is most definitely partly the fault of the prevailing rap/street culture that is so popular with our youth today. But our schools and teachers have gone above and beyond to try to help those who choose not to help themselves.

Just once I'd like to read, "The schools and the teachers have done more in these failing schools than in any other schools in the state. So the reason for failing students must lie somewhere else. We need to find those reasons and attack the problem there."

JIM MULLEN

Tampa

Accountability Bargain

Regarding "How Did USF School Fail?" (Metro, Aug. 3):

Nationally, charter schools are helping at-risk kids achieve at higher levels than are regular public schools. However, occasionally one of these independently managed public schools fails to deliver promised results, and so it loses its charter. That is part of the accountability bargain; too bad that deal doesn't apply equally to conventional public schools.

It is clear from this article that there were people who dreamed of the University of South Florida's charter school doing great things for students in poor neighborhoods adjoining the campus. Good for them! However, was this school doomed to failure from the start by being under the wing of the College of Education? After all, teachers' colleges are notorious for being in love with arcane education theory and not much into real-world practice.

ROBERT HOLLAND

Chicago

Not Felony-Worthy

Regarding "It's Bull Or Bust" (front page, Aug. 3):

Five teenaged pranksters are facing possible felony charges that could affect and ruin their lives forever over the "theft" of a statutory bronze bull, ostensibly, to be later used as a goof against a rival football team during an Oct. 31 game.

Meanwhile hundreds or even thousands of illegal aliens are given a pass on myriad real felonies such as identity theft, DUI, assault, murder and who knows what; not to mention the initial crime of being here illegally. Meanwhile, the sheriff's office says, "a very valuable piece of property was taken and then was concealed. We couldn't turn away from the fact that it was a crime." Since the kids were very thoughtful and quite ambitious in their endeavor, perhaps that creativeness should be funneled toward some meaningful and productive community service. Felony?

ROBERT RENNEBERG

Hudson

Feels So Much Safer

The relentless sleuthing of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Department has paid off with felony charges prepared against five anarchists who claimed to be playing a prank on Bloomingdale High School by taking hostage the school's bronze mascot. No doubt, their actions have causes irreparable harm and distress to an entire student body, not to mention the teachers and staff of this institution.

I, for one, am a little disappointed with the charges. Was there not a prosecutor with the foresight and sheer guts to charge these five under the new and much more appropriate anti-terrorism laws? Surely, time at Guantanamo Bay would dull the misguided sense of humor of these future criminal masterminds.

I am sure that we will all sleep better at night knowing that the felony charges against these evildoers will at least temporarily keep bovine sculptures safe.

LEE EDGERLEY

Tampa

Community Service Fine

The five teenagers who "captured" the Bloomingdale bull did not think twice about the consequences. After all, it was just a prank, right? Their intentions to place the bronze mascot on the 50-yard line at the Oct. 31 football game seemed harmless enough, right? Obviously they were incorrect with all of the above.

When you have shows on MTV that glamorize pranks, it's only expected that teens who watch them decide to do something themselves.

I feel that felony charges against the five Plant City teens are a bit much. Give them community service

CHERYL MORERA

Brandon

The writer is senior fellow for Education Policy, The Heartland Institute.

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