Letters to the Editor 12/12

A uniform solution

I read with delight the Nov. 3 letter from Ken Koenen that listed simple steps to fix schools that cost no money.

The one that stuck out in my mind the most was that all students wear uniforms. If you have not driven by any of the schools, you should. The high schools are the worst. The way students are allowed to dress is outrageous and parents are most at fault for allowing their children to walk out the door dressed in that manner. Schools also are at fault for allowing students to enter school dressed the way they do.

Boys’ butts are showing, girls are wearing skirts and shorts way too short and tops cut low, therefore showing everything.

Don’t get me wrong.

I am not an old person, but never have I seen anything so disgraceful. Until someone takes a firm handle on this, it will continue.

I also agree that parents should be held more accountable not only for their children’s appearance, but also for their attendance and schoolwork.

And hold students back who do not learn the curriculum. If they don’t get it, keep them back until they do and you’d be surprised how quickly they’d learn.

Mary Good

Atascadero

Team sports

In reading the article, “The almighty pursuit of winning,” (Joetopia, Nov. 12), I was upset with the statement, “we don’t need to celebrate athletics any more than we already do.”

I understand that the arts are not as well recognized, but funding is not the problem. Sports bring in money and provide for a good amount of their own funding. People do praise and award athletes. It is a natural instinct to cheer when a touchdown is made or a goal is scored.

It was also said that cable TV has made high school football such a big deal that we are “forgetting that these teenagers are here to learn life and team-building skills.” Well, aren’t football, basketball and soccer team sports? Sports teams are teaching teenagers team-building skills as well as many other lifelong qualities, such as sportsmanship and communication, that can be applied on and off the field or court.

Even amongst all the controversial problems with sports, coaches and funding right now, we can’t forget that people come together for the camaraderie and to cheer their team on all for the “love of the game.”

Sara Hall

Templeton

Basin Street thanks

The Basin Street Regulars Dixieland Jazz Club, sponsor of the 35th “First Annual” Jubilee Jazz Festival, takes this opportunity to publicly thank our sponsors and many volunteers for their support.

We especially thank the city of Pismo Beach, Pismo Beach Conference & Visitors Bureau, SeaVenture Resort, Edgewater Inn and Suites, Marie Callender’s restaurant and Pismo Coast Village RV Resort. Last but not least, we thank God for the best weather of the year over the Oct. 28, 29 and 30 weekend in Pismo Beach that brought out the jazz fans to the five Jubilee venues.

Yes, it was the 35th year for this jazz festival, which is always the last weekend of October. Traditional jazz is alive and well. See us at www.pismojazz.com.

George Smith

Arroyo Grande

Here’s the deal

It took SLO Councilman John Ashbaugh (Viewpoint, Nov. 30) the equivalent of five citizen letters to piece together a failed attempt to defend his vote for the $750,000 “investment” in two downtown blocks.

He first argues that the plan is good because it’s endorsed by the monied interests of the town: Chamber of Commerce; Downtown Business Association; Save Our Downtown. We all know that these groups are legendary for their fair, help-the-average-guy approach to governance. He then claims that the project will improve safety, serve as a “pilot,” make SLO more attractive, and create jobs. What, no decrease in global warming?

Here’s the deal, councilman: When you’re broke (as this council claims), you don’t buy a Mercedes when a Honda will do. Have Public Works fix the sidewalks that are broken (the block from The Habit Burger Grill to the Apple Store is perfect already), run the conduit through cuts in the concrete, leave the trash cans the way they are, and voilà! All fixed, probably for less than $100,000, including the cost of chrysanthemums.

Lin Whitehead

San Luis Obispo

Unwavering support

Partnership for the Children of San Luis Obispo County wishes to thank the professional team responsible for the recent expansion and remodel project of our nonprofit children’s dental clinic, La Clinica de Tolosa, to increase capacity to provide quality, low-cost pediatric dental care for more underserved children in our county: Rudy Bachmann, Mike Seminara, Tomas Gutierrez of Specialty Construction (who led the project and donated $20,000 of services), S.D. Franklin Electric, Pro-Coatings, Sherwin Williams Company, All Ways Clean (for donations of materials and services), Applied Telecom Technology, Atascadero Glass, Bruington Plumbing, Clean Lines Cabinetry, Computec Computer Services, Hamrick & Associates, Henry Schein Dental, Jed’s Home Repair & Maintenance, Nevada Drywall Dynamics, Floor Connection, Lessi Construction, Paso Robles Heating and Air, Dr. Jon Hollister (board member and project chairman for his tireless efforts to advance the project to its final completion), the county of San Luis Obispo, Public Health Officer Dr. Penny Borenstein, Health Agency Director Jeff Hamm, and First 5 SLO County for its unwavering support, without which the project would not have been possible.

And, finally, to La Clinica de Tolosa staff for their steadfast commitment to our mission. Heartfelt thanks to all!

Barbara Nicholson

Executive director, Partnership for the Children

Paterno failed

The truth is, many people do not know what the law says about reporting child abuse. The law states that if you suspect a child is being abused, you should report it to police or local social services. If you work in a school, you should tell the staff member responsible for child protection. The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) stipulates that if a teacher fails to report any suspicions of child abuse, they can face disciplinary action up to and including termination and criminal liabilities.

Joe Paterno was not only a coach, but a schoolteacher, and he and many others at Penn State allegedly failed to protect children and need to face the consequences. If someone had died, would it not have been Paterno’s responsibility to report that? Wrong is wrong.

When I was a principal, I made it very clear to my staff that they were required to report suspected child abuse, and if their choice was to report it to me, they needed to be prepared to talk with law officials when I called them, because the person reporting to me had firsthand knowledge.

Adrian M. Hurtado

Cayucos

A quality person

I typically have no use for government, but when I saw that a Pismo councilman named Ed Waage is running against Supervisor Adam Hill, I felt compelled to write. Why?

Because I know that Waage has been one of the Pismo leaders trying to bust open Price Canyon for development, which would absolutely wreck South County.

But also because I have had the opportunity to meet and talk with Supervisor Hill and have found him to be a quality person, someone who is not going to do things that would hurt his constituents.

Troy Johnson

Pismo Beach

A terrible impact

Regarding all the Viewpoints on the Dunes: What exactly is the agenda of the people who have cherry-picked the APCD’s Dunes study? Why would an elected official like Ed Waage prioritize off-road vehicle driving over health?

The answer appears to be money. Add to that right-wing extremism.

This is the same Ed Waage who, in these pages, assured us that Diablo Canyon was perfectly safe and needed no further studies on its seismic safety. I am going to guess once those studies become known, Waage will launch another campaign of deception.

And guess what else? Waage has been one of the Pismo leaders relentlessly pushing the development of Price Canyon. This proposal would have a terrible impact on South County and Pismo Beach, but I am assuming Waage will keep on deceiving, keep his focus on money and party allegiance over the people he is supposed to serve and protect.

Jan Woern

Pismo Beach