Time for limits

Dear Editor,

Congress and Senate should have term limits just like the President. All we have now are old geezers who have been in office all their lives. Become millionaires. They think only of themselves and not what’s good for our country.

They lie and steal and never go to jail, because they have the money to pay off whoever.

These proceedings that are going on right now will only put some little guy in jail, because he has no money to pay someone off.

Carl A. Rozzelle,

Russell

Injustice for a mom

Dear Editor,

When we read the recent article on the jail sentencing of Pattie Jo Vargason; we couldn’t believe in the outrageous thought process that was exercised by Judge Gregory Hammond.

He not only deviated from what the defense counsel requested but what the prosecuting team recommended as well for Vargason.

Isn’t it enough that this poor mother has had her failure to properly supervise her small children, which led to the death of her precious little girl being published in detail in the newspaper for the “tut-tutting” public to pass judgment on this poor mother. She will forever relive her poor judgment and the memory of her lost daughter.

Hammond’s decision is so disgustingly draconian, he deserves the “Clarence Thomas” award for lack of integrity.

Hammond needs a refresher course in both sympathy and integrity.

This sentence only reinforces what most folks already know: we have two sets of justice in this country, one for the “haves: and another for the “have nots.”

Ruth and Craig Tidrick,

Warren

Invest in children

Dear Editor,

Competent, qualified, and dedicated child care teachers are a primary component of the quality of a child care program. A child care teacher’s relationship with the children in their classroom impacts how they think, understand, communicate, behave, express emotions, and develop social skills.

My child has not been able to receive consistent high quality care and education because our child care program is struggling to recruit and retain staff. Since September 2021, he has had five different child care teachers leave his classroom.

He will get close to them, get a routine and relationship established, and then something happens that results in that teacher leaving. Each time my toddler has to readjust, which can mean behavioral changes, both at home and at school. His classroom has been in a near constant state of transition this year, when what he needs is consistency and reliability.

The staff that are working often must move from classroom to classroom, depending on how many teachers are not working on any given day. This inconsistency in a child’s classroom disrupts the loving, stable, and responsive relationships that are fundamental to the children’s development. This becomes a challenge for staff as well as students-they are leaving a room where they have developed relationships and planned lessons, and may feel that they have no “home” as they bounce from room to room.

To ensure my child, and children across Pennsylvania, are getting the high quality care and education that they deserve, our elected officials must include additional funding for child care in our state budget so that our child care programs can recruit and retain the quality staff that they need.

Our children are our future, and they deserve to have teachers who love their job, are good at it, and don’t have to leave because they cannot afford to remain in a job where the compensation doesn’t match the work and training they are required to do.

Amber Sharp,

Warren