1/30:
Use
the
SAT
as
the
basic
qualifier
for
HOPE
scholarships
Editor,
the
Forum:
With
the
full
realization
that
politicians
are
short
on
courage
in
an
election
year,
I
must
remind
our
keepers
in
the
Capitol
that
destroying
the
HOPE
Scholarship
will
leave
them
with
a
real
bad
hangover
in
November.
Classroom
teachers
should
neither
have
the
power
nor
the
pressure
of
deciding
the
fate
of
college-bound
students.
HOPE's
benchmark
"B"
average
and
even
the
proposed
3.0
requirement
leaves
Georgia's
teachers
in
a
precarious
predicament.
Grade
inflation
from
the
classroom
has
drained
HOPE's
coffers
to
the
point
of
insolvency.
The
only
objective
measure
from
which
to
gauge
HOPE
eligibility
is
the
SAT,
where
Georgia
currently
ranks
50th.
Give
Georgia
parents
the
responsibility
of
making
their
kids
score
on
the
SAT
versus
badgering
our
teachers
for
unearned
grades
and
we'll
see
Georgia
rise
out
of
the
educational
spiderhole.
A
Georgia
average
score
of
984
or
national
average
score
of
1,026
is
not
too
much
to
ask.
Besides,
it
won't
guarantee
acceptance
into
Georgia's
premier
universities.
Last
but
not
least,
DO
NOT
destroy
the
HOPE
Scholarship
for
EVERY
recipient
by
removing
payment
for
books
and
fees.
The
cost
of
books
is
outrageous
and
giving
the
Board
of
Regents
the
ability
to
counter
tuition
limits
by
boosting
fees
is
just
passing
the
buck.
The
HOPE
Scholarship
is
a
merit-based
privilege,
not
a
legislative-driven
right.
Trim
costs
by
taking
only
those
kids
willing
to
earn
it.
It's
Georgia's
only
HOPE!
--
Brian
F.
Luders,
Duluth
1/30:
Feels
school
board
move
circumvents
the
electorate
Editor,
the
Forum:
The
"creative
financing"
being
proposed
by
the
Gwinnett
County
Board
of
Education
for
the
continued
construction
of
badly
needed
schools
in
the
county
appears
to
be
nothing
short
of
creative
violation
of
the
Georgia
Constitution.
The
borrowing
of
money
that
would
create
an
indebtedness
of
taxpayers
is
plainly
spelled
out
in
tradition
of
a
referendum.
For
this
elected
Board
to
even
consider
doing
this
indicates
they
have
grave
concerns
regarding
the
re-election
of
incumbent
Board
members
this
fall.
It
would
appear
on
the
surface
that
they
hold
little
or
no
respect
for
the
citizens
that
will
be
required
to
repay
this
debt,
that
by
not
allowing
voters
to
make
the
decision
to
undertake
this
debt
they
will
be
cast
in
a
better
political
light.
Contrary
to
what
I
believe
they
are
thinking,
I
believe
taxpayers
in
Gwinnett
have
had
enough
of
their
shenanigans.
They
will
use
the
polls
to
repay
our
debt,
by
un-electing
board
members
that
hold
us
in
such
contempt
that
they
refuse
to
allow
taxpayers,
that
have
been
more
than
generous
in
providing
funding
for
our
schools,
their
legal
right
to
decide
if
they
are
willing
to
go
to
the
next
level.
Their
attempt
to
use
a
lease
purchase
plan
to
circumvent
voters
in
this
county
is
nothing
short
of
outrageous.
Their
attempts
to
use
this
as
a
means
to
place
themselves
in
a
good
political
light
during
an
election
year
by
not
having
to
ask
taxpayers
for
the
money
is
as
transparent
as
a
piece
of
glass.
I
feel
certain
that
if
allowed
to
encumber
the
residents
of
Gwinnett
with
an
additional
$300
million
of
debt
without
our
approval
that
we
will
in
fact
repay
that
debt,
with
interest,
on
Election
Day.
--
Jim
Dumond,
Buford
1/30:
Democrats
bashing
themselves
really
helps
Republicans
Editor,
the
Forum:
Since
when
has
either
political
party
ever
told
the
real
truth
during
an
election
campaign?
During
an
election
year,
more
lies
are
told
than
any
real
factual
truth.
I
myself
find
it
so
very
funny
this
year
that
the
Democratic
hopefuls
are
spending
so
much
time
trashing
each
other,
each
of
them
are
telling
everyone
that
the
other
hopefuls
would
make
a
lousy
president,
and
why
they
are
not
qualified
to
lead
this
nation.
All
the
Republicans
have
to
do
is
replay
the
statements
that
these
Democrats
have
made
about
each
other
to
prove
that
none
of
them
are
qualified
to
run
this
country.
And
what
is
really
stupid
is
that
so
far
none
of
the
Democrat
hopefuls
have
proposed
anything
that
would
improve
this
country!
They
are
just
busy
digging
up
dirt
on
each
other.
The
Republicans'
best
friends
are
the
Democrats;
they
are
self-destructing.
The
way
that
the
Democrats
are
going,
they
will
fail
in
their
efforts
to
bring
socialism
to
America,
but
not
to
my
chagrin.
--
Roy
McCreary,
Dacula
1/30:
Another
lover
of
Cheez-it
savors
joys
of
remembering
Editor,
The
Forum:
I
too,
have
been
in
your
shoes.
I
too,
know
the
complete
and
utter
joy
of
a
Cheez-It
sitting
lazily
on
the
tongue,
waiting
to
be
crunched
and
consumed
in
complete
disregard
of
the
yellow/orange
bits
that
will
surround
the
teeth,
mocking
morning
floss
routines.
Then,
when
my
children
were
small,
I
discovered
Goldfish.
Those
cute
little
fish-shaped,
bite-sized
cheese
crackers
so
perfectly
packaged
in
large
containers
that
open
like
a
gallon
milk
carton,
and
can
be
poured
out
and
re-closed
for
later
use.
Later
use....HA!
Not
in
my
hands!
Those
fish
didn't
stand
a
chance.
I
write
this
to
you,
fellow
lover
of
these
magnificent
snacks,
with
a
word
of
warning.
They
are
no
respecter
of
your
waistline!
They
will
completely
take
over
and
undermine
your
"good"
eating
habits!
Oh
yes,
you
say
to
yourself,
"just
a
few
won't
hurt",
and
"they're
baked,
not
fried".
But
alas,
MANY
pounds
later,
I
had
no
choice
to
but
to
remove
them
from
my
life
for
good,
never
to
be
scarfed
again.
I'm
proud
to
say,
I've
persevered
and
am
now
back
to
my
former
svelte
and
controlled
self.
If
you
ever
find
yourself
in
my
shoes,
don't
hesitate
to
contact
me.
United
we
will
stand.
Divided,
we
shall
gain.
--
Debbie
Martin,
Lawrenceville
1/20:
U.S.
school
in
Germany
seeks
postcards
from
all
the
states
