The Naples Daily News welcomes letters of up to 250 words. We reserve the right to reject letters or edit for clarity, brevity, good taste and accuracy, and to prevent libel. No poetry, attacks on private individuals, or letter-writing campaigns, please. Writers should limit submissions to one letter every two weeks. Include a phone number and make certain you have signed your letter.
Letter of the Day We flew
Editor, Naples Daily News:
Charlie Anderson, a World War II, B-17 bombardier, and I were honored with the privilege to speak before three assembled classes of third-graders at Pelican Marsh Elementary School on Monday in observance of Veterans Day the next day, when school was out.
The thrill of seeing the memories of our military experiences, through the eager eyes of those kids, was indeed gratifying.
Unbeknownst to these children was the sheer joy that we both felt observing firsthand the care and concern displayed by the school staff for those children.
Not since my 27 years of service in the regular U.S. Army have I observed such procedures of caution in protecting the treasures of our country, these young girls and boys, from those who may wish us harm.
It was a pleasure for Charlie and me to recite "The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America" and share some of our military experiences and decorations -- ribbons and badges -- with young voices asking, "What is it like to fly?"
We walked away confident of the future strength of this great nation of ours, our children!
God bless America!
Thank you for the opportunity!
Lieutenant colonel, retired, U.S. Army
Connect with a classroom
Editor, Naples Daily News:
Our schools do a wonderful job of providing students and teachers with the fundamental learning tools. But the difference between a good education and a great one lies in the opportunities students are given to learn from projects and activities that go above and beyond the standard curriculum.
Collier County teachers are brimming with great ideas for these types of learning opportunities. For the past eight years, The Education Foundation has worked diligently to bring these ideas to life in Collier classrooms through its Grants for Educators program.
In an effort to share these ideas with everyone in Collier County and to inspire the community's support, the foundation has created Connect with a Classroom. Through a partnership with the school system, teachers are able to post their great ideas for student projects and activities directly to The Education Foundation's Web site at www.educationforcollier.org
Community members and businesses can browse through these projects and activities by school or subject area and select one or more to fund or lend a hand with.
Teachers are continuously posting new ideas to enhance their student's learning everyday, but Connect with a Classroom cannot succeed without your support. As the chair of The Foundation's grant program, I encourage you to visit www.educationforcollier.org soon to see how you can connect your time, talent or resources with a classroom!
TKO for CSR
Editor, Naples Daily News:
Re: Dr. A. Joseph Layon's guest commentary last Sunday on Gov. Jeb Bush and education.
I suggest that the good doctor stick to his specialty of anesthesiology.
His reference to class-size reduction (CSR) "to ensure our children are educated" instantly negates any credibility of his Bush-bashing tirade. It is, in fact, a strong reinforcement of Bush's efforts to eliminate CSR in Florida for anyone conversant with CSR results; namely, the published evaluation report of the class-size-reduction fiasco in California.
That state is the only one that has truly evaluated the results of class-size reduction -- which are zero!
Gulf in Peril?
Editor, Naples Daily News:
Last weekend I checked out that dirty Gulf of Mexico and the all-but-dead Everglades. A group of us went on our annual November boating/camping trip. Guess what? Despite the bad press, the Gulf and the Everglades remain spectacular.
Soon after getting to the island campground there were four porpoise feeding on the bait fish around the campsite. It wasn't long before flocks of birds were flying overhead, including one of about 30 white pelicans. The fishing was pretty good throughout the weekend with my catch including redfish, trout, snapper, pompano, ladyfish and a few catfish. Tarpon were hanging out in the pass much of the time.
We've been camping these islands for 24 years and the beauty and nature remain unsurpassed. In 1979, which I guess is now the good ol' days, we dined on catfish due to the other varieties avoiding our bait. Of course then I was told how the fish practically jumped in the boats back in 1960. Maybe they are up to their old tricks.
The only environmental blemish of the weekend came Saturday night when some sort of ozone or other such pollution blotted out the moon for a couple of hours. You should have a reporter investigate that.
No pity for them
Editor, Naples Daily News:
Re: Last Sunday's story about immigrants and water systems.
Once again we are saddled with a story of injustice aimed at Haitians. Please. How did the company gain entrance to their home?
Let the buyer beware.
Too often the excuse after the fact is "I didn't understand" or "I didn't know that was the law."
If the contract is not in your language (which if you are living and working here should be English, but I won't even go there), don't sign anything. It sounds like buyer's remorse to me.
Just because you've now gotten together a group of neighbors who also didn't take the time to investigate what they were buying, it does not excuse you from paying for services and equipment rendered.
Just because you are an immigrant you should not be entitled to use that as an excuse for poor judgment. You are here, you are working, you managed to learn "the system" -- now learn how to be responsible for your own actions. No one opens your door but you.
'Adopt' a new view
Editor, Naples Daily News:
I try to accommodate the thickheadedness of some of the writers of letters to the editor, but Lea Ann Derence's Letter of the Day of Nov. 7 completely confounds me.
Jeffrey Scott Lewis' guest commentary of Nov. 3, clearly and with fine sensitivity to the nuances of words, recalls his children reading the word "adopt" in the context of purchasing a kitten. His daughter asked, "How much did we cost?" His pain from that simple event led him to write a long-overdue reaction to the inaccurate and overuse of the word "adopt" in frivolous contexts.
If Lea Ann Derence can equate the love of an adoptive parent for his daughter and son with her no doubt warm affection for her kittens, then perhaps my letter is futile. But surely she can understand that at no time will her kittens be able to read.
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