<b>To the Editor:</b>

This evening’s (Oct. 5) debate was one in which foreign policy and domestic issues came to the fore. Our nation is currently facing difficult situations both abroad and at home.

One point that was touched upon that I would have liked to hear more about was education, which John Edwards seemed eager to discuss, but alas, did not have enough time to do so. I found it telling and ironic that Dick Cheney discussed this subject in relation to reforming domestic issues in that it is the way to enable Americans to better support themselves.

I agree, and I think John Edwards would as well, that education is indeed the method by which individuals can become more aware and responsible for the world. We can only minimize the oppression of others by understanding the context of oppression and the people involved. We can only empower people to make positive changes in their lives and those lives around them through awareness of local and global circumstances.

However, an unfunded and unsupported No Child Left Behind Act (2001) is not the way that America will accomplish this goal. While the ideals of high academic standards, accountability and quality education is one that I would not argue against, making these demands of already overburdened, under-financed and unsupported schools and education personnel will only produce effects counter to these goals!

Did you know that Arizona ranks 49 out of 50 states in per-pupil funding? Did you know that this state has the second largest class sizes in the nation? Did you know that Arizona teachers earn approximately $5,000 less than the national average?

These statistics do not support education. A quality education demands that we support early education programs, small classes, skilled teachers, contemporary learning materials and safe and modern school facilities.

The Bush administration has failed in this endeavor. I believe that the Kerry-Edwards team can do better. They have long been supportive of education and understand that a stronger America begins in the classroom. On Nov. 2, join me in voting for John Kerry and John Edwards — our children deserve it.

By Dawn T. Corso, Ph.D.

Employee of the Marana Unified School District and

University of Arizona, Dept. of Teaching and Teacher Education

In Loving Memory of Noe Cisneros and Bianca Enriquez

Memories Last

All these memories of when you were here

Now I don’t know how I’ll get through the years

you’ve gone and left me so fast

wish I could bring back the past

I don’t know what I’m going to do now that you’re gone

you were young, your life didn’t last that long

This day you left shocked everyone

because everyone loved you a ton

I didn’t want to believe you were here no more

my heart broke and tore

Tears kept falling from my face

when you left me alone from this place

I thought we’d be together

thought you’d be here for me forever

you’ll always be my friend

my friend until the very end

now that you’ve gone away

this is the only thing I have to say

I miss you more each and everyday

but these tears won’t go away

all these tears I’ve cried

wont bring you back or change the fact that you died

But you’re still here with me

by my side until the day I die.

I left me today

You left me today

Now all I do is cry

You left me today

And I wonder why?

You left me today

To go back home

You left me today

Now I’m all alone.

You left me today

And it’s not just for awhile

You left me today

Now I can no longer smile.

You left me today

Our memories could never fade

You left me today

I promise to keep the promises that we made.

You left me today

Your face how I long to see

You left me today

Without you I can’t be me.

You left me today

So I scream to my walls

You left me today

I feel so weak I could fall.

You left me today

I ran out of time

You left me today

I can no longer say what’s on my mind.

You left me today

I watched you walk down the stairs

You left me today

I hope you know how much I care.

You left me today

With a picture and no hug goodbye

You left me today

With tears that can never be dried.

You left me today

But there’s nothing I can do

You left me today

But I can still say the word I know u can hear, which were, “I love you.”

They always shall be in our Hearts forever!

R.I.P.

God bless you all

By Efrin Vargas

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