Letters to the Editor - 5/15/08
Thursday, May 15, 2008
'Anti-school leader' acting hypocritical
It's been going on for so many years you can set your calendar by it. The small but vocal anti-school faction in our community begins chanting about "overpaid teachers." Their leader starts positioning himself as the "victim."
Extras
It can only mean one of two things — either he's running for office (again) or a teacher's contract is up for renewal. In this case it's the latter.
The state funding system is stacked against public schools and has been for more than a dozen years.
The Fairfield City Schools are already the sixth lowest "spender" of 53 public school districts in Butler, Warren, Hamilton and Clermont counties.
The anti-school folks would like you to believe that our schools are comprised of greedy teachers and administrators who are merely in it for the money.
Their leader has proposed a means to save money in our district by increasing volunteerism.
Ironic — I've personally volunteered alongside board members Kearns, Morris, Bailey, Murray and Superintendant Milligan — along with countless other teachers and administrators — at countless school and community events, staffing concession stands at games and concerts, pulling all-nighters to chaperone afterprom, scaling bleachers to sell raffle tickets for athletic and music boosters and serving senior citizens in the community.
I've never seen the anti-school leader volunteer at these events. Perhaps that's why he fails to see what's right with our school district. Perhaps that's why he feels disconnected from the true spirit of our community.
Heidi Bruzina
Fairfield Twp.
Portman plausible
for future VP
Rob Portman, former congressman, budget director and trade secretary is being touted as a candidate for vice president for John McCain.
I know Rob Portman well, as I worked with him before he became a congressman. I found him to be smart, caring and concerned. He is completely honest and nonpretentious. Having worked with several congressmen and other elected officials, I soon learned how to sort out the bad apples from the good, and Portman is one of the best.
March 14, 1993, I wrote a letter published in the Middletown Journal saying, "I would stake my reputation on Portman." I have never said that before or since about any person in public office. Little did I know at the time, by the age of 52, Portman would rise to become one of the most respected and sought-after persons on Capitol Hill.
The general public may not be familiar with Rob and his achievements, but people in government and private business (many of them are Democrats) cannot say enough positive things about his ability to make fair and right decisions to get needed changes in Washington.
Wouldn't it be nice to see your former local congressman become vice president and perhaps president of the United States?
Do I have inside information on what Portman might do? No. Rob does not connive or speculate about his political future. One thing I can tell you for sure, there are a lot of people who would like to see Portman in a top leadership position to pull this country out of the doldrums.
Don Gingerich
Springboro
