Heartfelt thanks

To the Editor: I want to say thank you to the Corsicana ISD administration, faculty, and 2009 senior students for allowing my handicapped daughter to attend the graduation ceremony. Laura is both physically and mentally handicapped and will not have many moments in the sun like this. It meant a lot to her and to her family and friends. I have been impressed with the CISD policy of “inclusion” rather than “exclusion” as has been the policy of many other schools. I am equally impressed with the special education department and especially her teacher, Nancy Duren, diagnostician, Vickie Kirk, and the therapists that worked with Laura while she has been a student in Corsicana.

With deepest gratitude and sincere appreciation,

Paula Sullins



Grateful for golf

To the Editor: I’m not sure I understand it all but the Oak Trail Golf Course has reopened.

In this economy, opening and running a public golf course takes a lot of guts, dedication and hard work but, without community support and players, it just won’t work! Think of this, Hitler was in power in Europe when the course opened in 1938. (I was 1 year old.) Fairways were cut with horse drawn mowers. There were no golf carts, the greens were sand and you could play for 25 cents. That’s a long time ago. But, through the war, the Depression and our current economy, good people have risen to the top. We need to thank them by supporting our Oaks and getting the word out — The Oaks golf course in Corsicana is open and better than ever!

We have written, talked, told stories and authored articles about the need for a public golf course in Corsicana. A lot of people have spent a ton of hours volunteering to get it in shape because they understand its importance. Golf is a big part of our lives.

Mike Atkeisson knows golf. If anyone can make this work, he can. With brothers B.D., Bobby and Mike’s son Will, Bob Luther and others, I can’t think of a better team to plan and implement. We are very fortunate to have local men running our local course. Now, it’s up to you and me to support it!

Don Harvey



About TAKS story

To the Editor: I realize that the Daily Sun is more or less representative of the entire county, but it is our Corsicana paper first. I took exception to Janet Jacobs’ article on the TAKS, especially the title. As a whole, CISD did very well on the TAKS overall and should be commended from the ground up. The children and the teachers work very hard on this each year because it means a great deal to the future of the individual students, to the future of the teachers, and to the district. The teachers and the district are held accountable for the TAKS results. The kids have their future held more or less hostage by those same test scores. Agree with the testing, or not — as long as it is here, we have to deal with it. To the reader only scanning your title, it looks as if the CISD struggled — it did not. Perhaps it is just me, but it seems that each time you do an article regarding the schools or teachers, it comes across as negative. I would refer you to your other article in the paper, “Teacher alert,” but that is another article and deserves another letter. The fact that you have a job in reporting means that a teacher and school went through the trouble to teach you basic reading, writing, etc. The process is not perfect, but try being positive, and building them up, as opposed to only showing the down side. Try “CISD has a good showing on the TAKS, and other local districts did too.” There’s nothing wrong with listing the low points, but they don’t need to take center stage unless that is all there is. Like the bumper sticker says, “If you can read this, thank a teacher.

Thanks,

Ronnie Wylie



Appreciates support

To the Editor: Navarro County Branch NAACP education committee and Lifeline Church and Family Services sponsored “Getting Serious with Education” (GSWE) tutorial program.

The tutoring program was designed to assist students in sixth through 12th grades retain the knowledge and skills needed to graduate from high school and become competitive in our society. The tutoring program was held at Lifeline Church and Family Services.

Parents transported students to and from the facility each Wednesday. Upon arriving at 4:30 p.m., students were given nutritious snacks before tutoring. We had a total of 38 students enrolled in our program with an average of 25 to 30 students present each Wednesday. The students were focused and quite engaged in the information presented to them. It was quite amazing to watch them as they listened and asked questions concerning the skills being taught to them.

We were fortunate to have math teachers Rosie Kelley and George Burrell working very hard with students needing assistance in math, and teachers Sam Humphries and Abigail Thomas working with students who needed assistance with science. Many of the students and parents have called to say “thank you” and to inform us that the tutorial program was very helpful in assisting the students with passing the TAKS.

Many, many thanks to Pastor Ricky Walter and staff for assisting in co-sponsoring the program, for the use of their facility, offering transportation for the students, purchasing materials and preparing snacks for the students. Thanks to Lifeline, each teacher was compensated for services rendered to the students. We were also very appreciative of a donation given to the program by an anonymous donor.

Mr. Berringer, vice principal, CHS; Mrs. Kelly, instructor, CMS; and CISD, thank you for supporting us with your suggestions as well as the materials you provided for the students.

God bless you,

Elmeree Burrell

Education chairperson, NAACP; organizer-GSWE tutorial program