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Thank You for Your wisdom
Lord God, we thank You for life itself, the biggest miracle of all.
We thank You for Jesus Christ, and for mercy, grace and salvation.
We thank You for the gift of freedom, and for this great nation and the founding fathers, who sought Your wisdom in all of their decisions.
Forgive us and our culture for abandoning Your guidance and for embracing every kind of culture rot, which has worked its way into every branch and bureau of our government, our commerce, our institutions, even some of our churches.
Lord, please bless all of us here, all generations of us and our once great beloved United States of America.
Donald S. Hirakis
Lewistown
Public Education
To the Editor:
The number of students attending Pennsylvania's public schools has declined in recent years. Why? There are many reasons, including fewer births because of birth control pills, abortions, cyber schools, private schools, religious schools and, of course, the baby boomers are through school.
As a result, there are fewer teachers, but the number of sports programs and the distances traveled to these events has increased. In addition, the number of administrators has increased 700% since 1950. Today, there are superintendents and their assistants, principals and vice principals at different levels, athletic directors and assistants, business managers, curriculum coordinators and the list goes on. Of course, administrators need clerical staff to assist them.
However, when budgets need to be cut and taxes increased, which employees and programs are targeted? Of course, it is the teachers and educational programs. When was the last time you heard them propose to cut a sports program and coaches or an administrator and clerical staff?
Administrative consolidation of public-school districts would help eliminate the number of expensive administrators and their staffs and save educational programs from elimination. There are many advantages to school consolidation, but it takes a commitment to change, innovation and desire to educate all students.
This is important because free public education is still important today.
David Faust