LETTERS: DOWN A NEW RATHOLE

To the editor:

A recent article on the Opinion page prompted me to express my thoughts by reiterating a recent e-mail message I sent to the White House regarding the $1.3 billion reading program.

I believe that in most every school the opportunity to learn to read is there. A previous author on this page suggested that teachers don't have enough time these days due to many useless programs they are required to include in their curriculum. While this may be part of the problem, I believe that a bigger and more serious underlying problem is present: parent and student apathy. An apathetic parent will most likely raise an apathetic child. When you have no desire but to live off of the government, it isn't necessary to strive for academic excellence or achievement.

It seems ludicrous that the government that has spent billions and billions of dollars basically promoting and encouraging this behavior by its failed programs should not attempt to rectify the problem by pouring even more money into another bureaucratic rathole that is doomed to failure as usual. I am certain that $1.3 billion will not make a bit of difference in the level of apathy or reading skills.

TERRY CANUPP

Cape Girardeau