Mailbag - July 1, 2000

Coach Kirk Bauermeister’s statement (“Prayers won’t be sidelined by

ruling,” June 21) that, “If anyone has a problem with praying, they have

a problem with life,” is not something I want taught to my son.

I had a problem with “praying” at an early age. I so often found myself

asking for favors from God -- which to this day I find unhealthy and

morally wrong -- that I decided what others consider to be prayer is not

a good approach, for me, to a deity.

Matthew 6:6 reads:

“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your

Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret,

will reward you.”

Personally, I believe that our every breath should be prayer, and there

should be no distinction between ordinary thought, speech and action and

some special mode of addressing God called “prayer.”

But I would never ask Bauermeister to follow my beliefs or denigrate his

because he doesn’t agree.

As a community leader and citizen, Bauermeister should respect the faith

of those whose religious practices are different from his own. He should

include the boys who believe as I do -- or who are simply atheist or

agnostic -- instead of leaving them out of his inner circle.

LANCE JENCKS

Costa Mesa

Let’s keep space open behind the library

Kudos to the Daily Pilot for its support of open space on the land

adjacent to the Newport Beach Library (“Library land should stay as is,”

June 17).

While it seems like the proposed three acres for a cultural center would

be a small part of the full 12-acre site, the full site should be

considered in its totality, not torn into pieces.

This is a magnificent view site and habitat for native flora and fauna --

so precious because it is so rare.

LUCILLE KUEHN

Corona del Mar

Newport-Mesa teachers deserve better salaries

It is incredible to me that the teachers of the Newport-Mesa Unified

School District are among the lowest paid in the county. Especially when

you look around Newport Beach and Costa Mesa and see a harbor full of

boats and very expensive homes with Mercedes-Benzes, Jaguars and Porsches

in the driveways.

I truly believe taxpayers’ priorities need to be reexamed. Teachers are

the people who make a future possible for our children.

Everyone talks about the lack of quality education, yet people are

unwilling to put their money where their mouths are and pay teachers what

they really deserve.

No one wants taxes raised, but I would gladly pay $200-plus per year in

extra taxes to have my child get the best education possible.

Let’s face it, most of us fritter away at least that much every year on

silly things that we could do without. And decent salaries will attract

quality people into the teaching profession.

I know someone who has just gotten a teaching credential and is looking

for a job. The person won’t even consider applying at the Newport-Mesa

school district because the salaries are so low and the district is in

such chaos.

When you consider all the education that teachers have to have, all the

testing that they have to do, everything they have to go through to

obtain a credential and the responsibility they assume to educate our

children, it’s just not enough money.

Come on, people, what is really more important, a future for your child

or a new boat, vacation or new car? Let’s get our priorities straight.

HEIDI GROSSINGER

Costa Mesa