<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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