European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 11, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday june 11, 1992 the stars and stripes a Page 13 letters to the editor european edition col Gene e. Townsend. Usan comr Nander publisher Bernard a. Zovistoski Teller news and editorial Bill Walker la Ronan Tchor Deboreh Absher Bryan Nolan nows editor City editor Bob Wicker George Manes sports editor special sections editor to write us unit 29480 Apo a 09211 or Postrach 11 14 37 6100 Darmstadt 11, Germany news Tel fax 06155-601416 to Call us dial 06155-601 plus Extension or ets 348-8 plus Extension As follows news ext. 237, 255, 282, 226, 326. Sports ext. 225, 269, 263, 332, 321, 221. Features ext. 230, 245, 341. Letters to editor ext. 208 education Jimi Jones ext. 226. Business news ext. 326 news bureaus Kaiserslautern Germany Peggy Davidson Kevin Dougherty building 2899, Pulaski Barracks Apo a 09227-3717 Telephone civilian 0631-52104 Tel tax 063150696. 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Turkey Istanbul civilian and Luleta 0090-1 -1 724043 United kingdom Newbury civilian 0635-44 768, Dan 266-3209 advertising display Germany 06155-601247 or 601309. Al s 348-8247 classified Germany 06155-601349, ets 348-8349 advertising Tel fax 06155-601412 a please 9 \ Recycle a a a this newspaper is an authorized unofficial publication for members of the military services overseas. Contents of the stars and stripes do not necessarily reflect the official views of. Of endorsement by the . Government the department of defense or the . European command. The appearance of advertising in this publication including inserts or supplements does not constitute endorsement by the department of defense or the stars and stripes of the products or services ave nosed everything advertised in this publication Snail be made available Tor Purchase use or patronage without regard to race color religion sex National origin age marital status physical Handicap political affiliation or any Oier non men actor of the purchaser user or Patron just be grateful this is in response to a recent letter concerning funds for College tuition. The letter writer complained about using up the 16-credit-hour tuition assistance allowance before the fiscal year ended. This Soldier apparently spends Little time in the Field and should feel fortunate to be Able to Complete two courses per semester hour. In a assigned to an Armor battalion. In be been in Germany for 18 months and have completed two College courses. Be glad that you can work toward your goal of a College degree in a timely manner and foot the Bill if the degree Means that much to you. A William p. Paquin Iii Mannheim Germany 4> encourage students i highly concur with the writer of a funding education May 25. Her letter has brought up some overdue issues which i feel need to be explained in depth by our policy makers. As a former tuition assistance to student i myself have on several occasions exhausted my to within six months of the fiscal year in which i had applied. You hear so much about a continuous education a sponsored by your local education centers armed forces radio and television service and the army. All the communicators of this message surely know that 16 semester hours is a very obtainable objective within a six month window. Then Why is there a restriction on self improvement for those of us who seek additional education i realize that a person can apply for an a exception to policy a and if approved continue beyond the current restriction placed on the use of to. However these approvals Are hard to get and usually Are granted Only to those individuals who Are within one or two classes of graduating. It would seem to me that an employer would be Happy to extend this Benefit for they would in the future see increased responsibility and productivity from that individual. With the draw Down the army is experiencing today the need for a higher educated Soldier has to be a major concern. Lets lift this Barrier to self improvement through education and set our goals for the future. Continuous education should hold no restrictions in today a army. A staff sgt. James d. Dunlap Nurnberg Germany Small classes wonderful the draw Down has its definite disadvantages but As a teacher for 29 years i have recently experienced something in my career i never thought possible. Our class sizes at Mainz Are averaging 15 students. As a Media specialist who enjoys having classes weekly for lessons in the Media Center i am Able for the first time to really talk and have interchanges with this number of children. What a wonderful difference this makes in understanding what they Are thinking. 1 have always thought that the most important ingredient in education is parents and especially the dad but the class size contributes enormously to the effectiveness of the teaching and interaction of our children. Our society has the intelligence but we need to work on social skills also and this is not nearly As effectively accomplished with Large class sizes. I suspect other educators would concur with this. Perhaps our society could begin to work in this direction. Dodds has the perfect Opportunity to Lead the Way. A Susan  Mainz Germany editor s note a. Letters from readers expressing their viewpoints or opinions arc published daily in this space. All letters must be signed. We Reserve the right to edit letters for clarity length and taste. Preference is Given to Shorter letters so that More can be published in a timely manner. Letters should be addressed to letters to the editor the stars and stripes unit 29480, Apo a 09211. A a a letters requesting information or assistance Are answered in a feature called readers action line which appears on Page 16 every Day except thursday and sunday. Such letters should be addressed to readers action line the stars and stripes unit 29480, Apo ae.09211.pupils overcrowded id like to thank the Dodds administration for overcrowding my children a classrooms this year. When this decision was announced i remember Reading the administration did no to feel it would have an Adverse Impact on the children. Perhaps they need to get out of their offices and live the reality of the students and teachers. My songs kindergarten class went from 18 tov27. They Are feeling the negative Impact of assimilating nine additional students into a program geared to developing Early academic and social skills. More disruptions and tensions have been noted by the teachers and parents. And obviously there a less time available for each student when the ratio of child to teacher Rose. I recognize that changes arc going to occur during this time of draw Down but what happened to the Quality education for our children and Quality of workplace for our teachers we know about the draw Down we live the reality. Some bases Are closing and populations Are shifting but proper planning not based solely on budgets is needed. An example of poor planning and performance by Dodds is the current situation in this same kindergarten class. I do not feel its appropriate for parents to have to Volunteer to assist the primary teacher until the end of the year when a paid position is vacated. 1 and other parents have assisted and chaperoned As needed throughout the year. Dodds knows when teachers and teachers aides Are leaving even on Short notice. There a a hiring freeze on and Many qualified people Are looking for work. So Why wont Dodds adequately staff my songs kindergarten class what would happen if no parents were available to bail Dodds out a Kathleen p. Godsall Heidelberg Germany a a article a insulting i found the article May 21 regarding the ban on homosexuals in the military insulting to say the least. As a somewhat open minded individual i firmly believe that homosexuals should be allowed to serve in the armed forces As Long As they do not pose a Security threat As alleged. On Tho other hand i do not feel that i should be forced to live with someone who indulges in a lifestyle that i find morally and ethically offensive. Just As one would not House a Black american with a Kun flux klan member i will not tolerate being housed with a homosexual female. In addition the statement that rep. Patricia Schroeder d-colo., made that a the qualities that make a woman successful in the military such As determination competence assertiveness and strength fit the stereotype of a lesbian is one of the most idiotic statements made to Date. I am a heterosexual who is thoroughly amazed that a Public official could make such an outlandish remark. Does this mean that because i am assertive determined and competent i done to fit the stereotype of a heterosexual a Lynn Radford Frankfurt Germany a Slio Otini Down myths inns done to kill people. If you have a gun that wont kill people take it Back and demand a refund. Its defective. Guns were invented for killing people and they do that very Well. If guns arc outlawed Only outlaws will have guns. The Only people talking about outlawing guns arc the Era National Rifle association and other gun nuts. The rest of us just want them regulated and controlled like other dangerous products such As poisons prescription drugs and explosives. We need guns for Protection. If guns Are defensive devices Why arc so Many cops shot and killed every year if guns can to protect people who carry them All the time and know How to use them How can anyone believe guns can protect someone who barely knows which end the Bullet comes out of the Constitution guarantees everyone a right to own a gun. The Constitution guarantees Freedom of religion but you can to abuse drugs or perform human sacrifices As part of a religious ceremony. Anyone who really believes the founding fathers did no to want us to be Able to protect ourselves from gun nuts Isnit too Bright. People can always find something to kill with. True people were killing each other for millions of years before guns were invented and will go on killing when guns Are controlled. But so far guns Are the most efficient and simplest killing tools Ever invented. Knives baseball bats and even cars can be murder weapons. The difference is that none of these things was invented solely to kill people. You might be Able to fight off or run away from someone with a knife or baseball Bat. You might even be Able to Dodge a speeding car. But Only Superman can outrun a speeding Bullet. Any supermen out there got any More myths that need shilling Down a master sgt. Floyd a. Newsom Kapaun air station Germany pen pals i would like to to know Youl i am a 24-year-old German woman and i have Many interests. A Melanie Molske Erlen Weg 34 w 5810 Witter-6 Germany i am 38 years old and i would like to have pen of. In the american forces Between the Ages of 34 and 40 Annie Quin 14 Rue do la Jhio 67370 Bors total Franco