The Willow Glen Resident

Letters

'Not in my back yard' mentality is prejudiced

I didn't respond when The Resident wrote an article on group homes (Feb. 25), and I didn't respond when someone stated his opinion about why there should not be group homes in Willow Glen.

However, the cartoon in the March 4 issue caused me some concern.

Right now I personally know of seven households in the Willow Glen area in which either one or both adults have gone through a group home. These people are your next-door neighbors or your co-workers.

If it weren't for the safe environment of a group home, these neighbors of yours would never have the chance to live in and be productive members of society.

If the opinion stated in previous issues and the recent cartoon is what constitutes the membership of society, where can one put in his resignation from that society? I have not seen any statistics showing group homes are a danger to any neighborhood.

What I do see is some Willow Glen homeowners showing a side that is ugly, prejudiced and the "do something but not in my neighborhood" mentality--otherwise known as mean-spirited, small-minded with no sense of compassion.

Alan Bonnet
Debar Court

Booksin deserves quality library

As concerned parents of children at Booksin Elementary, we are very disturbed that our children will be losing the quality of services that they currently receive in their library/media center. We are disappointed that in September 1998 the services that are now provided by two full-time positions will be replaced by one mandatory 20-hour-a-week credentialed union position.

Over the last 10 years, the Booksin community has contributed $100,000 to the technology lab and $54,000 to the library. The investment needs to be protected. In addition, this year the school district is allocating a 3-to-1 matching grant of $28,000 for equipment purchases, which without full-time personnel will sit collecting dust.

This is unacceptable. Why would the district want to dismantle this successful partnership?

The successes of this partnership include: full-time library and computer instruction for the children, community partnership with the San Jose Public Library and Hicklebee's Childrens Books, an automated card catalog, visiting authors and community members, a school-wide motivational reading club, maintenance of computers and networks, assistance to faculty for software and troubleshooting questions and timely purchasing of videos, CD-ROMs, books and software.

We believe that each school site should have local control in hiring the expertise needed to fulfill the technology needs in its library/media center. We want nothing less than these two full-time positions. Anything other than this is unacceptable.

Silicon Valley employers have asked for the professional educators' commitment in preparing this generation of students for its future. Our school district's policy toward technology personnel is antiquated. Get in step with our future! Look at each school individually and stop setting blanket policies that limit successful growth.

Karen and Will Clinton
Harmil Way (and several other Booksin parents)

According to San Jose Unified School District spokesperson Maureen Munroe, the district requires all schools to have a half-time certificated library/media resource specialist. As part of an agreement with district Superintendent Linda Murray, Booksin received a special dispensation to employ a technology consultant in the computer lab for the last two years--and now the dispensation has expired. The three parents working in Booksin's library have been paid from school funds, and Munroe says there's no reason why that has to change.--Editor

Today's generation lacks respect, honor

Today I got home and found The Resident on my doorstep, with the article regarding the dying elk (March 11).

I've lived in San Jose since 1963, separating from the U.S. Air Force SAC 2nd Air Force 97th Bomb Wing. Our aircraft were parked at Castle Air Force Base, and in the reserve program I came to San Jose to be close to my base.

At that time I noticed the San Jose Elks Lodge, since I lived at 1291 Vine St. before purchasing my home on Cherry Avenue. I noticed all the activity at the Elks Lodge. Later I became a Lion and a Helen Keller fellow, a life member of the Lions' eye foundation and the Lions' eye bank, Lion of the Year and a member of the Santa Clara County Blind Center.

I am very active in the Lions Club. My father was a member of the Masons, a Shriner of the Yorks Lodge 32 Mason. I decided to join an organization that had an Olympic-sized swimming pool and facilities that were close to my home. Most of the Lions who belonged to the San Jose Elks were from my club, West San Jose Lions Club.

I was given an application and scrutinized by municipal and superior court judges for qualifications of honor, pride, integrity, loyalty, reliability and patriotism, which is the backbone of Americanism.

As a member of the San Jose Elks Lodge, I have seen the lodge do marvelous things over the years. One of the greatest things that I found was the fact that it gave retired Elks someplace to go and feel at home. They could spend their time with other men, whether playing cards, shooting pool, snooker or billiards; having a drink, smoking a cigar, pipe or cigarette; talking about their life, history and experiences; and sharing this with younger Elks who profit from this.

One thing lacking in today's Baby Boomers and yuppies is that they're so wrapped up in running around with one shoe nailed to the floor that they have trouble identifying with basic traditions of the United States.

Maybe this is why the children run around putting their signatures on fences and billboards, walls and fences, which is called tagging. This shows lack of discipline and respect for other people's property, including the citizens and taxpayers, and productive, creative Americans.

It should be noted that 70 percent of the Elks to date whom I know are ex-military members, from the lowest to the highest rank. In here, they're all sheriffs, policemen, judges, district attorneys, councilmen, supervisors, senators, congressmen--and the one thing they all have in common is that they like to belong to an organization that helps the community.

Young people and old, men and women see people in need and deal with them. Elks are honor, pride and integrity, who know how to joke, sing, cry and fight for their rights.

God bless the United States of America and Americanism and also those organizations, whether fraternal or community organizations, such as Masons, Elks, Eagles and the American Legion, that believe in God and country.

John J. Sahpazis
Cherry Avenue

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