The Comet welcomes letters to the editor responding to articles and events in the news. They must include the author's name, address and telephone number. The letter writer's name and city/town will appear in the paper - no exceptions. Letters must be 400 words or less in length. Please send your letters to: editor@carrollcountycomet. com; Letters to the Editor, Comet, P.O. Box 26, Flora, IN 46929 or P.O. Box 179, Delphi, IN 46923; or fax 574-967-3384 or 765-564-2010. By submitting a letter or opinion article, the author grants the Comet the right to publish, distribute, archive or use the work in print, electronic, on-line or other format.

A student's perspective

As a student at Delphi Community High School, I am frustrated at the community's inability to understand how badly we need renovations at the high school. I am especially frustrated with a letter published in the Comet last month by a parent claiming that the school was using students during an 8th grade orientation meeting to force the issue of a need for renovation. Our principal Barry Stone didn't put the students up to doing the presentation. We were frustrated and looking for a way our voice could be heard. Our school is falling apart. When was the last time you had to go sit in the classrooms?

I'm tired of going from class to class not knowing if it's going to be cold or hot. I'm tired of never getting to do anything fun in science because there is no gas, few working sinks, little storage space for lab materials, and no safety showers. I'm tired of using a bathroom stall without a door. I'm tired of needing a drink of water and struggling to find a working water fountain. I'm tired of putting my gym clothes in a rusty locker and walking on disgusting carpet in the locker room.

Many schools have upgraded their computer and science labs, but we haven't. Yeah, we do have computers but what's the point? They are really slow and it takes forever to download information for school projects. It's really hard to get excited about learning when our school is in such bad shape and our resources are so outdated.

How are we supposed to make a difference in the world when our learning environment is so far behind other schools? I don't think it's really all that fair that when I go to college I will be competing against kids who were exposed to much more than I was in high school.

Maybe if we had a better school we would have more school pride. Maybe our academics would be better. I'm not telling you in May to vote for the school renovation project, but please think about it a little more before dismissing it.

What is so wrong with helping us in our future? I thought that parents and members of this community would be more concerned about its youth. I know you're scared about your taxes going up but apparently they won't. One last thing… why not do the renovations now while everything is cheap? In a few years when it has to be done, things might not be so cheap.

Renovating DCHS will give people work. It will improve the learning environment, aid in academic success, and improve the morale of students and staff. It is a needed project.

Mr. Stone did not tell me to write this. I wanted to because this is what I think the community should know before they vote.

Cory G. Hammond

DCHS sophomore

Let's focus on needs of young children

Young children in Flora, Delphi and all of Carroll County as a whole deserve the best that we can give them.

"Week of the Young Child," to be held May 19-25, is a time to recognize the needs of young children and thank the adults involved in their education and care. Parents, teachers, caregivers and other adults play important roles in the lives of young children and "Week of the Young Child" celebrates their efforts.

We can show our support for early learning in our community by promoting early literacy programs, thanking teachers who care for our children and working to ensure that our public policies support early learning for all young children.

"Week of the Young Child" is a time to focus our attention on bringing Flora, Delphi and Carroll County together for children.

Anita Bowen, for Area IV Head Start management and staff,

Lafayette