Letters To The Editor
Museum Relocation

Idea Not Good

As a Cameron County Historical Society board member and Cameron County Genealogy Club director, I would like to personally thank Mr. Gerg.

He obviously feels that his concept of relocating the Little Museum is a fantastic idea.

Mr. Gerg has had many great accomplishments in his life. He has many admirable qualities.

Nonetheless, I feel Mr. Gerg is amiss with this idea and should just "let it go." Insult and ridicule will never win people over.

Some things to clarify in Mr Gerg's letter that I know to be incorrect that appeared in last week's Endeavor:

1. This year at least two historical society members stepped up to become board members.

2. Historical society never looked into the idea of replacing the Little Museum in Sterling Run. It did, however, have an office used for storage. Last year a building in Emporium was purchased. That will become a genealogy library.

The library will be a very large project. With that being said, the historical society has its hands full at this moment.

On the other hand Max Narby has pursued his vision with a commitment of his own hard work and dedication. I am proud of this and will support his goal for a Korean War-Vietnam War museum.

The historical society is an honorable organization. It graciously welcomes respectful ideas, new memberships and donations.

But just understand the board will justifiably decide what is best for its priceless treasures. That also includes the Little Museum itself.

Wendy Davis

Emporium

Cancer Fight Requires Vigilance

Dear Editor:

The recent Celebration on the Hill in Washington, D.C., not only celebrated cancer survivorship, but also supported laws that will help fight cancer.

Every member of Congress was visited with this urgent message: make funding cancer research programs a priority.

Cancer is one of the most preventable and increasingly curable life-threatening diseases, if detected early. Most cancer suffering and death occurring today is needless. Yet, despite the fact that cancer cost the nation $210 billion in 2005, we spent less than $5 billion fighting a disease that affects almost half the population.

For 2006, Congress cut the budget for the National Cancer Institute for the first time in a decade. The president's budget proposed an additional cut of $40 million for 2007.

What you eat and drink, how you live, where you work -- all these factors can affect your risk for cancer. The single most effective way to reduce cancer risk is to not smoke. Eating well, being physically active and maintaining a healthy weight are also important ways to reduce cancer risk.

If you can't prevent cancer, the next best thing you can do to protect your health is to detect it early. Recognizing symptoms, getting regular checkups and performing selfexams are just a few ways you can do this.

Trained cancer information specialists are available 24 hours a day, toll-free, at 1-800- 227-2345. Hillary Clark

Regional Advocacy

American Cancer Society

Politics As Usual

Dear Editor:

David Kuo, a conservative Christian who served as special assistant for President Bush's Office of Faith-Based Initiatives, is coming out with a book this month. He is no Michael Moore.

Kuo points out that money from the Faith-Based program was to be used for providing financial support to charities that serve the poor. According to Kuo, a lot of the money never arrived. The social programs were in fact spending $20 million a year less on them than before he took office.

So where was the money going? To conferences in 20 key political races to entice the Christian community to vote Republican. In other words, politics.

Kuo goes on to say that Karl Rove even referred to prominent evangelical leaders as "the nuts." National Christian leaders received hugs and smiles in person and then were dismissed behind their backs and described as ridiculous, out of control, and just plain goofy, Kuo writes.

Further proof of this administration's hypocrisy is the Foley matter. Republicans chose to keep a political seat, protect a pervert, rather than do what was right. Not to worry, they will investigate themselves.

Wake up people. We need the checks and balances back our Founding Fathers intended. We need the Democrats in control of the House and Senate so they can be more involved in the investigations. We need to get rid of secrecy. We need to be told the truth. We need our country back.

Ron Ritsky

Brockway

School Test

Scores

To the editor:

Much has been made about how Pennsylvania students are performing on the PSSA -- the state's standardized test.

Public education is expensive, and we must carefully examine whether the current education system is delivering on its promises.

Statewide, Pennsylvania achieved its 2005-06 goals of 54 percent proficiency in ready and 45 percent in math. The percentage of proficient students in grades 5, 8 and 11 increased. So, our schools must be giving us a good bang for out buck, right?

Not necessarily. Despite our "success," 35 percent of 11th grade students cannot read at their grade level and 48 percent are below proficient in math.

At both the statewide and local levels, proficiency rates get worse as our children get older. The more time students spend in public schools, the more they fall behind.

Additionally, our state standards may not be that strong to begin with. Pennsylvania students scored much worse on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). Further, a recent report by the Fordham Foundation gives Pennsylvania a grade of D in education standards.

Pennsylvania's graduation rate is 81 percent, but only 40 percent of students graduated were ready for college. And Pennsylvania ranks 47th in average total SAT scores.

Pennsylvania spends more on public education, per student, than all but five other states and ranks fourth in teacher salaries. Taxpayers spent about $11,000 per public school student, a figure which has risen by 46 percent in eight years.

More dollars have failed to produce more scholars. It is clear that without substantive reform of our school system, we will never achieve the level of performance our parents and communities demand and our children deserve.

Nathan A. Benefield

Policy Analyst Commonwealh Foundation

Harrisburg