Letters to the Editor
Zero tolerance policies deny students their rights

Students are denied civil rights at schools everywhere.

My name is Marie Perkins and I am a citizen of Newark, Del. I Have two children; ages 13 and 17.

In our school district children are afforded no protection under the constitution of the USA either! I too am speaking of zero tolerance polices.

Janet Stephens and I are only two mothers of the everexpanding number of mothers of children being abused by school administrations across the country. She is correct; children are being treated as criminals and they are not given the same rights as you or I. They are being suspended, expelled, and even face criminal charges for what once would have been handled by the teacher or principal and parents.

If you are a parent you would be wise to take heed to what Ms. Stephens is sharing with you. I too shared my story in the hope of making other parents aware of the danger their children face attending school everyday. Not just the danger of being bullied by other students but of being bullied by those we tell them to obey and trust.

Please visit https://home.comcast.net/~pet oc/home.html for more information or www.ipetitions.com/petition/ USA_child_rightspetoc/ to help put an end to these unjust policies.

Marie Perkins

Newark, Del. Teachers deserve better

As a parent of children in the Santa Rosa County School System I am very concerned about the fact that the school board for SRC is proposing a 0% pay increase for our teachers when both counties on either side are getting an 8% increase in their pay. The reason they give…there is no money, but the same amount is allocated per student no matter what county they are in.

How can Escambia afford an 8% increase and Santa Rosa can't? Living in Santa Rosa County has gotten more expensive so why can't we give our teachers a raise so they can meet their expenses and still keep their main focus on our children.

You know what happens when good teachers can no longer afford to be teachers? We lose them and our children suffer for it. Surely they can at least come up with the money for just half of what Escambia is giving and at least give a 4% increase. Please take the time to email each of the school board members and tell them of your concern for our teachers here in Santa Rosa County.

[Their names and email addresses are:]

Diane Scott, District 1: scottdl@mail.santarosa.k12.fl.us

Hugh Winkles, District 2: winkleseh@mail.santarosa.k12.fl.us

Diane Coleman, District 3: colemanmd@mail.santarosa.k12.fl.us

JoAnn Simpson, District 4: simpsonjj@mail.santarosa.k12.fl.us

Ed Gray, III, District 5: grayem@mail.santarosa.k12.fl.us.

Heather Vogel

Gulf Breeze GBN coverage helps zoo

Thank you for all your help with Feast with the Beast. With your support, we were able to raise more than $45,000 for the zoo.

You helped to bring over 650 people to the zoo that night! What great coverage you gave us.

Patti Hutto Gulf Breeze