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Letters: Ask the Hard Questions |
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by James J Cahalan
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Friday, 02 February 2007 |
I just want to comment about Lansing Schools. I attended school way back when. Since I left Lansing I have learned that it was a good school system but it has fallen in to the same problems that other rural school districts around the country have -- classroom size over crowding sports programs etc.
I hope if the February vote passes its for betterment of the children and not for elitist in the community. That has been a problem in Lansing for many years. I have seen first hand destruction of the federal no child left behind act has caused. Also the sports programs and music programs, a lot of money spent for these programs but not on academics. Voters need to keep in mind education is a must less than a tenth of the kids who succeed in music or sports go on to make it their calling.
Physical part of schools is necessary ,but over spending in high priced programs is not . Moneys earmarked for sports and music programs should be looked at trim the fat as it were. Long time residents of small town Lansing have paid the price for Cornell and other collages expanded population. It's become a collage town. Is that good or bad? I do not know. Is it time for rethinking maybe?
Voters need to vote... those on the push for capital project need to be more forthcoming and present a clearer view. There are other issues that need looking at. Age of the community, history, jobs, infrastructure. Is Lansing township going to be swallowed up in 20 years. Is the identity of the area going to disappear? Most kids who grow up in Lansing leave because failure of towns leadership to look ahead, not just elected persons but others who live in the community. I don't have the answers but I think others should also ask the hard questions
From: James J Cahalan
Dallas, Texas
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