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Best we can do?
A hearty and sincere “thank you” to the Sound Off editors for publishing the letter from the substitute teacher who misspelled both “discretion” and “Principal” while asserting that he or she is qualified to teach (“Qualified?,” Dec. 23-29). I laughed out loud when the writer went on to brag about working on a degree in, of all things, English education! I don’t doubt that qualified substitutes are difficult to find, but is this really the best we can do? Adjunct professors are being laid off from our four colleges at an alarming rate. Sadly, these experienced and educated teachers are already used to low pay and disruptive (college) students. I suspect at least some of them are willing to substitute at Potsdam Central. Perhaps they could teach spelling...?
Subs overlooked
I have my associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees in teaching. I finally had to take another full time job and give up on my teaching. I subbed for six years in different area schools. I did after-school programs, tutored and anything else asked of me. I did get called for an interview for a position but they ended up hiring people that never set foot in the school before their interview. I was very disappointed and quit that school district. I was hurt as well. So ask yourself why qualified teachers would want to sub if they are overlooked for full time positions.
Festivals of light
After reading “Keep Christ in Christmas” (Letters, Dec. 9-15)), I strongly felt that I needed to address a few issues brought up. First let me state that I am a dedicated, Bible believing, gospel-preaching Christian. However, this article insists that the only reason for this season is the birth of Christ, and the other holidays and events were added afterwards (“Around the birth of Christ the world has developed a ‘holiday’ season to accommodate others who have different beliefs”). In fact, the other holidays (Hannukkah, Solstice) were all around before the time of Jesus (which actually likely happened in September or May). The placement of Christmas gives it a deeper significance: It’s literally the darkest time of the year, and as people are celebrating the returning of light with solstice (and Jews celebrating the festival of light), we celebrate the coming of the Light of the World (Jesus). But to insist that Christmas is the only reason for this December season just isn’t true.
Not a surplus of talent
The high school in Potsdam employs a number of substitute teachers who do not have college degrees for a very basic reason: there is not a surplus of “talented...faculty” waiting to be hired as substitutes (“Unqualified?” Dec. 16-22). In fact, I doubt that anybody who has a master’s degree in education is looking for a job substituting at a local high school. If this were the case, the high school, I am sure, would gladly, and promptly, hire those qualified individuals over just-out-of-high-school graduates. On the other hand, these high-school graduates understand the school system, the individual teachers, their teaching methods, the scheduling, the students, and the ups and downs of the entire school system, having just gotten out of it. Who better to facilitate the learning of a class full of kids than somebody the high school both knows, and obviously trusts?
So sorry
Overheard: “We worked hard to reform health care, and we said a government-run option was important to keep costs down. No one should go bankrupt because of medical costs. No one should be denied care because of a pre-existing condition. As your representative in Washington, you should know that I am in favor of quality health care for every American at a fair price, and I would like to help. But I’m sorry, I can’t. The people from the health insurance and drug companies, who pay my campaign expenses so that I may continue to serve you, believe that the closer we stay to the current system while forcing more people into it, the better off they will be. They have persuaded me to tell you that theirs is the right course, or they won’t bribe me anymore. So we will all continue to pay double what people in other industrialized countries pay, while we get less for it. God bless American business, for all they do.”
In every district
Whoever was complaining about the use of unqualified substitutes (“Unqualified?” Dec. 16-22) is obviously uninformed. Yes in every school district unqualified substitutes are hired. Do you want to know why? Because nobody wants the job! Each and every school district maintains a substitute list. Basically all you need to do to get on the list is go in to the district and fill out the appropriate paperwork and submit your fingerprints for your mandatory background check. If the district likes your performance when they call you are apt to be called back. If you are certified you might even make $75 a day – about $12 per hour. I know first hand that all districts have short sub lists. Oftentimes when things like the flu hit they will have a hard time finding enough subs period. So for all these displaced college professors out there, come on down to your local school district office and start filling out the paperwork. We need you.
Love and compassion
One word comes to mind when reading the most recent Sound Off articles relating to whether or not to say Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays...sad! I think it is sad that people get mad at such a trivial thing. Whether its a Christian, Jew, Arab, or what have you, the most important thing is what is in one’s heart. I don’t practice a particular religion, but I do practice love and compassion. Maybe that is the most important religion of all. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and enjoy the Kwanzaa season. I am sure I left someone out and will read about it next week's Sound Off.
Never enough books
I had to smile when I read that Clarkson University is asking the community to donate fiction books to its library holdings. Is this the same university that wants $300,000 for its almost empty Snell Hall, even though the community that desperately needs a new town hall had sold the building to the university for just $1? Hey Clarkson: I have an old copy of “Never Enough,” a book about unchecked greed. You can have it for $300,000.
No excuse
Women still die from legal abortions. Even before Roe vs. Wade, women could still have legal abortions. They needed a note from the doctor to the state. Yes it took more time, but killing a baby shouldn’t be a quick decision and a convenience. With all the multitudes of birth control out there today that was not available in 1969, women really have no excuse to fall pregnant if they don’t want to. The days of back alley abortions, homes for unwed mothers, shame on the single pregnant woman are archaic and don’t exist anymore. Single parent families are mainstream. People aren’t ashamed and disowning their daughters over pregnancies. Communities aren’t whispering about the “bad girl” who had sex before marriage. So really that argument of back alley abortions is outdated. I have more respect for women that birth their children and love them, than a woman who would selectively kill a family member.
What’s the problem?
These days, one can only be considered ignorant to be “dismayed” to think that the months of November and December should be restricted to celebration of “the birth of Christ” (“Let’s Keep Christ In Christmas This Year,” Letters, Dec. 9-15). There is no need to mention the celebrations not having to do with Jesus -- religious or otherwise -- that coincide with these months. My questions is: Why can’t Christians just observe their rituals without foisting them on others; or, in the case of Ms. Morgan -- and many, many persons of her ilk -- actually propose to exclude others from celebrating their rituals? Just practice your rituals! What’s the problem? What are you worried about? Why do you need the “cooperation” of others?
Children’s safety
This is to the person or people who are in charge at the Parishville school who decide the weather delays and decided to put our children out on the roads to get their state aid. Thank God we as parents know better when it is safe to allow our children out there when there is a 50 mph wind storm along with lake effect coming in with it also. I did however notice that other surrounding schools took their children’s safety at hand and did close. Yea to them!
Do you enjoy it?
I just have one question to the hunters in the North Country. Do you feel enjoyment when you put a bullet into an unsuspecting animal?
Chewing unprofessional
I have been in several businesses this past week from banks to fast food establishments and am amazed at how many employees are chewing gum. When I was taught about professional behavior, chewing gum was one that was never allowed. It is very unbecoming to be speaking or doing business with the employee and have them chewing gum. It is unprofessional and unsightly. Possibly the managers of these establishments need to take some etiquette classes. They could then pass this information on to their employees. Hopefully, some of these people will read this and know whom I am speaking about.
Sometimes not worth it
It would be ideal if only qualified teachers were used as substitutes in our schools (“Unqualified?” Dec. 16-22). However, the individual who wrote about this issue has made a faulty assumption: He or she has assumed that there are qualified people who are willing to work as substitutes. Most schools work quite hard to secure qualified substitutes. Unfortunately, there are times when a qualified substitute cannot be secured for a particular class. The reasons are simple: The pay is low, usually about $75 day in most districts, and while there are many wonderful children in our schools, a small percentage of them are ill-mannered, undisciplined and difficult to deal with. It is fair to say that substitute teaching is a challenging job. For the past year I’ve substituted extensively. I have both undergraduate and graduate degrees and I am fully certified and qualified. I have endured these unruly children, worked hard to correct their behavior, and I will be very lucky if my annual pay exceeds $9,000. There are times when I am called to substitute for a particular class and after considering the children in that class I have to conclude it’s not worth that much aggravation for the $50 or so in net pay.
Clear walkways
How much does Canton pay someone to drive a Bobcat around and clear those sidewalks? Apparently not enough pay or not enough manpower. And what about plowing the dual bridges leaving downtown Canton, plow the snow/salt combination right onto the sidewalks and leave it there? No one wants to walk through that! It is understood that there are many more roads than sidewalks in the area, and auto accidents are a serious issue, but so is personal injury resulting from snow, slush and ice buildup.
Who do they think they are?
Have you noticed that in all of the sporting events and musical concerts in the Potsdam Central School district that the names of the school board members are listed on the program? I am wondering why this is? Who decided that this was a good idea? Usually in a program for an event you would list names of people who are to be thanked for their contribution (e.g. coaches, parents, teachers, etc.). It is perplexing to me why our school board members feel their names should be listed on every program. It is actually an insult to those who really do have an impact on the wonderful students who are performing in the event, the ones who deserve the recognition. Our school board has shown a pattern of an exaggerated view of their importance. It would be a good idea for them to step back and examine what really makes a district like Potsdam what it is, and that is the students and the teachers. They are the ones who deserve recognition.
Games, war cheapen life
I’ve just read both Sound Offs about abortion (“Legal Abortion Saves Lives,” Dec. 16-22, and “Stand Up And Shout,” Dec. 2-8) and I have to say I believe video games and war have made people devalue human life (or any life at all for that matter-remember that poor bird in Potsdam?). Before anyone gets up in arms about the military and how they are just doing their jobs - I know that. They live their jobs and they have to kill or be killed. That’s war. In the end, their names won’t be read out, it will be statistics. Video games make it fun to kill. You get points for it. You move on to new levels. Great, and yet we still allow them in our homes. Kids kill other kids just “to see how it feels”. How’s that for an excuse? This is what we are breeding and making excuses for. Abortion devalues human life? Sorry folks, it’s humans that do.
Turbines on Waterman?
I wonder why they don’t build wind turbines on Waterman Hill, south of Canton on County Route 27. There is a lot of open land up there. I have seen them in Lewis County. They are huge and magnificent. It would help us in St. Lawrence County.
Do without a little?
I have been reading and hearing that even more families and individuals are in need of help from volunteer organizations this year than most. The holiday season brings this to light, but it goes on all year every year, despite this being worse than most in recent memory. If each of us who has enough gives up just one thing that we really do not need, or can make donations of money or goods to local organizations that help those in need, there should be enough so that everyone would have the necessities, at the very least. I have long been appalled by the fact that so many in our area are doing so very well, while so many others are not even able to get what is needed to maintain themselves, and so many others barely manage to eke by. If one has not seen another who is desperate for something to eat, they should. Around here we don’t have to go far to do that.
Voters made a statement
The person who wrote “Votes Wasted” (Nov. 11-17) is mistaken if he or she thinks those votes were wasted. I am sure those people who voted for Dede Scozzafava do not live under rocks or not watch TV or listen to radio. They used their right to vote for whom they wanted. They were making a statement that she was still their choice regardless of all the mud slinging and inaccurate information that she endured. Apparently these people did not want either of the other two candidates. They still used their right to vote. They could not have voted at all and it would not have mattered. At least they were making a statement. A clear statement was sent by these people. Dede Scozzavafava was their choice and they were not wasting their vote on someone they did not want.
Greetings of the season
To all you politically correct buffoons out there...in this country we say, “Merry Christmas!” If you find this offensive, then get out of the country! It is ridiculous that the college campuses can not hang a wreath with a red bow, or do anything that reflects Christmas as a public display because of a few people who do not celebrate this Christian holiday. You do not have to be a Christian to celebrate it either. It must drive you crazy seeing all the displays and the commercials on television that are Christmas. Merry Christmas Merry Christmas Merry Christmas, not Happy Holidays! Shout it to the tops of the mountains, Merry Christmas! Have your own beliefs but, don’t tread on our Merry Christmas.
Happy holidays
This is in response to the letter “Let’s Keep Christ In Christmas This Year,” (Dec. 9-15). It says, “Of course this season does exist to celebrate a “holiday”, so to speak. However, this season exists for one reason...to celebrate the birth of Christ.” Actually, there are two other major holidays that happen around the same time as Christmas: Hanukkah, a Jewish holiday, and Kwanzaa, a celebration honoring African heritage and culture. While Kwanzaa is a more recent holiday, Hanukkah has existed longer than Christianity. The Maccabees rededicated the Temple in Jerusalem and the miracle of the oil occurred almost 200 years before Christ was born. So to suggest that the holiday season only exists to celebrate the birth of Christ is ludicrous. Greeting people by wishing them “Happy Holidays” is simply one way of being polite, without assuming that they share your beliefs when they may in fact be celebrating a different holiday during the holiday season.
Unqualified substitutes in Potsdam?
It has come to my attention that the high school in Potsdam employs a number of substitute teachers who do not have college degrees, some who are only a few years older than the students they are teaching. I find this alarming for a number of reasons, and I hope that the school district will reconsider this policy. I am sure that most of the substitute teachers do a wonderful job for very little pay, but those without at least a college degree should not be there. The recent cuts to state education have led to the firing of a number of talented adjunct faculty from the local colleges. These individuals are experienced teachers with graduate degrees. Surely they could do as well, if not a lot better, than someone who graduated from high school last year – or never graduated at all.
We need universal health care
About health care insurance: All of the complaints about how teachers have better health care plans than most everybody else...instead of fighting that, the fight should be that everyone across this country’s population spectrum should have similar coverage. What we all need is a universal health care plan modeled after what teachers receive locally.
Don’t look if you don't like it
This is in response to the person who wrote “Game Photos In Poor Taste” (Dec. 2-8, about NorthCountryNow.com’s new “Fish & Game” page) If this truly bothers you, don’t look at those pictures! I’m a lady hunter and I am very proud of my hunting experiences and would have my pictures put in any paper, and yes my tags are legal. And to all the hunters out there who harvested a deer or a bear, good job!
Legal abortion saves lives
In response to “Stand Up And Shout” (Dec. 2-8): If you want to talk about devaluing human life, you might want to take a good long look at yourself and all other anti-choice people. Gutmacher Institute recently came out with a study that “70,000 women lose their lives per year due to unsafe abortion.” This is usually due to it being illegal in their country or not having the money to get a safe abortion. I know some people might read this and think, “Well she deserves it,” but before getting all high and judgmental mighty you should also take into consideration that the majority of these women were already mothers to begin with, leaving the rest of her children without a mother. If you really care about children as much as you say you do, then you will understand why keeping abortion legal isn’t such an absurd idea, but a necessary one. Legal abortion saves lives. Maybe you should consider trying to help children who are actually alive instead of investing your time towards oppressing women and spreading hate.
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