Letters: School vouchers will hurt Philadelphia kids who have no help

SO OP-ED columnist Fatimah Ali now supports a voucher movement that will increasingly pull children and money out of the public school systems.

She was so determined to help her struggling son get an appropriate education that she fought for the right to have him placed in a private school. That determination is something most parents of the children who will remain in the public schools after the institution of vouchers will lack.

Philadelphia couldn't even get such parents to take the time to sign free lunch applications for their children. I commend Ali's devotion to her children, yet society must not abandon its responsibility to the children who have no devoted advocate at home.

To maintain a secure society, public schools must continue to serve as their brother's keeper. Unless our leaders step up and strengthen the public schools so all parents' needs are addressed, they will become schools for the underclass.

Edwin H. Smith, Philadelphia

I'd like to thank Fatimah Ali ("What Changed My Mind on School Vouchers," Feb. 15) for her supportive words describing her family's experience at De La Salle in Towne.

De La Salle in Towne has been supporting and educating Philadelphia-area youth for close to 40 years. It is part of a continuum of services of the St. Gabriel's System, an agency in Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, which has partnered with the Family Courts in Philadelphia and the surrounding counties for more than 100 years.

As we continue to serve young men with similar stories who struggle in more traditional education settings, it is our hope that other students and their families can experience the same pride as Ali describes.

Charles E. Gaus Jr., Director

De La Salle in Towne, Philadelphia

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I sympathize with editor Larry Platt in his search for local elected leaders possessed of big ideas and bold thinking.

Unfortunately, he's looking in the wrong city. Philadelphia has limited, low-quality human capital, especially in the political arena. We have to face that fact.

In the same edition, I read where a progressive community put a vacant lot to creative community use, only to discover that the city had put the lot on Craigslist in pursuit of the highest bidder. Typical Philadelphia, always looking for ways to find money, even when it comes at the expense of its residents. If you want to create fines, fees and taxes, or discourage new businesses, or organize nonresponsive bureaucracies, come to Philly. These are the areas in which we excel.

Len Trower, Philadelphia

It's a sad day when Milton Street is the only "name" person to challenge Michael Nutter for the Democratic mayoral nomination. It's an even sadder day when forced to choose between them, I'd grudgingly take Street.

Jim O'Neill, Philadelphia

The time is now to put a major dent in the budget deficit by eliminating the four Council seats being given up due to retirement and the notorious DROP plan. Our population doesn't warrant a 17-member Council that feeds and retires at the taxpayer trough. Retiring and returning is immoral if not illegal. The mayor could get a big re-election boost by standing up for the taxpayers clearly being abused by this outrageous perk!

Thomas G. Lutek, Philadelphia

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It just dawned on me why the

Daily News

went from 75 cents to $1 as Ed Rendell writes an article from a fan perspective. I guess my money is still going to his salary.

Tommy Henry, Philadelphia