Published: October 06, 2009 07:34 am      

LETTERS: Oct. 6, 2009

New Albany bike lanes on Spring could cause accidents

The bicycle lanes on Spring Street between Vincennes and Bank have the potential for horrible accidents. I recently encountered a bicyclist going east, or the wrong way, in the bicycle lane on the south side of the street. Indiana law requires bicyclists on public streets to obey the same rules of the road that motor vehicles are required to obey. Is it legal for bicyclists to go the wrong way on one-way streets? Further, are drivers who are entering Spring Street from side streets on the south side of Spring looking for bicyclists coming from the wrong direction?

It does not look to me that this matter was thoroughly researched. It does not make sense that bicycles and cars should be going in the opposite directions on a one-way street. Further, the striping job on Spring Street was a sloppy job. I am surprised it passed the specifications. Who approved this work?

— Bill Smith, New Albany



Like a good neighbor, Bob Bitner’s there

Thank you State Farm insurance agent, Bob Bitner, for caring about the New Albany-Floyd County High School’s dropout rate and for acting on your convictions.

Mr. Bitner coordinated the recent trip to Indianapolis, where other concerned adults from our community attended the America’s Promise Alliance conference. I thank Mr. Bitner for providing me the opportunity to attend the conference and I thank those who share the concern over our dropout rate and took time out of their busy week to attend: Pam Lumley (RE/Max), Bruce Webb (Mathnasium), Dan Dickey (NAPD, NA-FC SRO), Jack Messer (NAPD), Scott Mitchell (NAHS Counselor), Steve Cunningham (NA-FC ESC Director) and Shirley Rice (OFS Coordinator).

We have a very supportive community and I am so thankful that more business leaders and caring adults are taking the initiative to see that our kids get the resources they deserve.

— Lee Ann Wiseheart, New Albany



Area teacher unhappy with Dept. of Education

Dr. Bennett and the Indiana Department of Education have failed social studies. In the rush to reform K-12 social studies education, the IDOE is harming students and teachers. The proposed changes to the way Indiana social studies teachers receive and renew their licenses will mean that excellent secondary social studies teachers will lose their jobs. This is not the way to reform K-12 education.

Currently, statistics show a 50 percent turnover rate for first-year teachers within the first five years in public schools. The proposed changes will only continue to increase the numbers of highly qualified educators leaving the profession.

In addition to changes in licensure, the IDOE implemented an inferior ISTEP+ social studies test this past spring and published the results without consideration of the test as a first-year pilot program that may have contained flaws imbedded in the questions. Because of the poor quality of the test, we do not know if 40 percent of the students failed the test or if the test failed 100 percent of our students. The test is harming the very students the reform efforts are supposed to be helping.

Finally, the IDOE refuses to communicate with schools about the changes in testing and licensure. This failure to communicate is demoralizing public education. Is the goal of K-12 educational reform to improve public education or destroy it?

We must hold Dr. Bennett and the IDOE accountable for the damage being done to our schools.

— Chris McGrew, president, Indiana Council for the Social Studies, Ft. Wayne; and Todd M. Read, board member, Indiana Council for the Social Studies Teacher, Clarksville Community School Corp.