Coach’s good work rates an attaboy, not...

Coach’s good work rates

an attaboy, not a citation

Regarding the citation given to coach Rick Campo for not having a

field-use permit, he can call me and identify himself and his address

and I will send him the $136 fee plus a little for his good work with

the kids (“Cited youth coach pleads common sense,” Wednesday). How

ridiculous.

JERRI MIRAMS

Newport Beach

Please don’t touch the fairgrounds, Arnold

The governor needs to keep his hands off the fairgrounds. It

doesn’t need to be sold, and it doesn’t need to be moved. It’s just

fine the way it is.

MYRNA HAMID

Newport Beach

Give up those guns; slow down the church growth

Regarding the Pilot article, “Bryco to reopen under new name,”

Aug. 21, I do not think we need Jimenez Arms manufacturing guns in

Costa Mesa.

I don’t know where they should go, but I don’t think we should

sell arms here. I’d like to see the store on Harbor Boulevard give up

their guns, but I’m dreaming.

On a different subject, as far as St. Andrew’s Church is

concerned, I feel its expansion plan should be diminished even

further. The church seems to be putting in more and more requests

for additional space. It has enough going for it now. It should be

taxed to begin with, but that’s another story.

LYNN MERLES

Costa Mesa

When people enjoyed working with their hands

I agree with Steve Smith’s Aug. 21 Family Time column (“Education

bureaucracy bears down on our kids,” Aug. 21), when he wrote:

“Schools are trying to fit square pegs into round holes by putting

far too much emphasis on sending all kids to college. Not every kid

wants to, needs to or should go to college.”

I taught mathematics for 33 years at Newport Harbor High School,

where I was chairman of the department. I was impressed by the

industrial arts program that its chairman, Jeff Powell, had built up

right after World War II. He was able to purchase surplus shop

equipment, I was told, for something like 5 to 10 cents on the

dollar. The shop was equipped with metal lathes, milling machines,

welding equipment and drill presses; offered a small engine course

that taught students how to repair gasoline engines; and it had an

electronic repair course for radios and television.

Around 1982, when I retired, shop courses were being phased out,

and the spaces they had occupied were put to other uses. Thus, what

was a vibrant program in industrial arts was allowed to wind down as

the shop teachers retired or moved away. Today, I believe the only

course remaining from that department is photography. Gone are the

courses in metal shop, welding, wood shop, small-engine repair and

mechanical drawing.

I am sure there are students at Newport Harbor High who would take

such courses, and who in the future might add to the dwindling supply

of plumbers, electricians, carpenters, computer repairmen, mechanics

and others who like to work with their hands.

WEBSTER JONES

Costa Mesa