Thursday, May 18, 2006
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Thursday, May 18, 2006 |
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Community | Obits | Editorial & Columnists | Society | Sports | Education | Classified Ads | Calendar of Events | Features | Newsbriefs | Legals | Archives | Photo Gallery |
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Letters to the EditorLooking for friend: Hello from Ohio, This sounds really strange but I am having a hard time locating a person from your area. My name is Bill Ackerman and my wife Amy Tice is from your area. She is looking for some of her friends and one of them is Teresa Holmes Clifton (maybe Theresa ) and I would appreciate any help that you could give. She graduated from Potts Camp High in 1987 and married Michael Clifton. Her father’s name is Clifton Holmes. Last known address was Hwy 78 in Hickory Flat. I am trying to surprise my wife by locating some of the people that she had grown up with and misses. I also would like to put faces with some of the names and stories that I have heard over the past 18 years. I would like to thank you in advance for any help you can give. Bill Ackerman Accentuate the postive: After many years of teaching, coaching and serving as assistant principal (mostly in the Chicago area) I still cherish the opportunity to interact with students in positive situations. I was eager to assist the state testing process that took place last week at the Holly Springs Junior High School. It was a pleasure to work with dedicated volunteers, teachers and city and state individuals who served as proctors and monitors for the three day testing period. As we know, the students at Holly High are not often depicted as being very studious, courteous or kind. Descriptions usually fall short of desirable student behavior. Statements have been made that alluded to teachers being non-responsive to parent or guardian assistance in the classroom. Well, during the time I spent at Holly High I observed just the opposite of the negative portrayals. The coordinator for the state testing, Mrs. Fiddis, came across as a very knowledgeable and responsible individual. It was obvious that she went to great lengths to be sure that every person, place and thing was fine-tuned and operational. The administrative and staff personnel eagerly assisted as needed. Amenities were made available with a focus on consideration and comfort for all. As a person not always in contact with the student population, and based on what I often hear, I was not expecting what I actually witnessed. The students were amazingly kind, courteous and very helpful. I was enlightened by one of the counselors that 70 percent of the students go on to colleges and universities and do well, some exceptionally well. Unfortunately, people usually judge the school by the 30% that do not quite get the picture. I was made aware that what I was seeing was not an isolated incident, but showed the real character of the young people who attend Holly High. There was love shown for a teacher who was feeling ill. There were expressions of concern and attempts by students to assist her. Even I was the recipient of compassion, gratitude and kindness from a student who insisted on helping me down a flight of stairs. I don’t know that young man’s name, but if you are reading this article, I shall never forget that heartfelt gesture of kindness. I would like to thank Mrs. Fiddis for the opportunity to serve and be a witness to greatness in progress. Sincerely yours, Prevent, don't provide: Graduation is an exciting time for both parents and their teens. As celebrations are being planned, it’s the perfect time to remind parents to “think again” if they believe it’s OK to host a “special event” party with alcohol or to buy it for teens and their friends. These parents may be well-intentioned, but hosting such parties or buying alcohol for minors – even one time - is irresponsible, illegal, and can create very serious consequences for the rest of their lives. “Prevent, Don’t Provide” is the message A&B Distributing Company, convenience stores, grocery stores, and other retailers are sending to parents and adults asking them to do their part in preventing underage drinking. The good news is more than 26 million youth ages 12-20 are dong the right thing by not drinking, and the number of fatalities in teen drunk-driving crashes has declined by 64 percent since 1982. But we can all do our part to help this positive trend continue. Mixing teens, inexperience and alcohol can be a recipe for disaster. At A&B Distributing, we want to see the problem of underage drinking solved and we urge parents and all adults to join us in this fight -- don’t buy alcohol for minors or provide it to them at parties. Sincerely, Report News:
(662) 252-4261 or south@dixie-net.com
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