Monday, March 16, 1998

Tornado sirens

I'm writing to remind our "great American city" that our town is overdue for tornados and bad weather.

I feel we are still shutting our eyes and ears to a very important fact. We need the tornado warning sirens to be repaired. Why can't this project's importance be brought up?

I'm not running for office of any type. All I'm really concerned about is the safety warning that will save lives.

This is no sport, but it's extremely important. Wake up, Abilene, because our day is coming. I truly believe this is more important than any hockey team, horse barns, baseball team, than even whether our coliseum is repaired.

All this can be destroyed so quickly. Let's try to do something to save lives and warn people of what's happening. You can't save all the sports, but our city residents might be saved if they know what's coming.

Recently, Florida was damaged so badly. Lots of lives lost. If each taxpayer were charged as little as $2, our town could be prepared for a tornado by sounding our warning system.

All these wonderful so-called historic buildings, trollies, parks, etc., can be replaced. But our citizens who didn't know what was coming can't be replaced.

We pay $10 a year on each vehicle registration for county bridge repair. I wonder how many taxpayers ever see where their money goes. If only one life is saved from a tornado warning system, it is money well spent.

Please, Abilene, wake up before this happens here.

GAYLA ROSS

Abilene

Political health

The Abilene Reporter-News deserves high praise for its coverage of the recent local election campaign. Seldom does one see so much space devoted to letters from area readers giving their positions on the various candidates. It made stimulating reading.

I must conclude that local politics is alive and well in the Big Country.

Local politics rocks!

ARLIE J. HOOVER

Abilene

Via e-mail

Not just the system

Cal Thomas' column about the quality of public school education places the entire blame on the public school system "monopoly." Our public school system might not be perfect, but as an educator and parent, I think Thomas missed several key elements.

First is the student. Have you ever tried to teach a student who was unwilling to learn? Even at the university level, I've encountered students who still have not realized the value of an education.

Second, what about the parents? Not all parents take an active roll in encouraging and supporting the learning process. Do we balance the priorities of homework and activities? Do we provide the motivation focusing on the importance of education in today's high-tech society, or do we send a message that school is just a necessary evil of life until you graduate from high school or turn 18?

Finally, what about society in general? Have we become so focused on achievements and rewards that schools have had to lower their standards and expectations in order for our students to be rewarded for their perhaps meager efforts?

It is easier to blame a faceless system as a failure than our students or ourselves.

Today's youth have the ability to learn, and we need to help them discover and nurture that ability. Maybe we need to change "the system." Maybe we need to change ourselves. I hope the next time my son asks for help with his geometry I will think twice before saying I am too busy.

RICH BROZOVIC

Abilene

Via e-mail