Stop pouring public funds into private voucher programs
![Shirley Brooks-Jones was flying home from Europe on Sept. 11, 2001, when her plane, like many others that day, was diverted to Newfoundland for several days. Inspired by the locals' acts of kindness over 4 days, Brooks-Jones launched a scholarship fund for the tiny fishing village that had showed such hospitality. That scholarship fund has grown to about $2 million, and Brooks-Jones was recently honored by the Columbus Foundation for her work and generous spirit. Brooks-Jones poses with a Newfoundland flag at the Columbus Foundation on September 9, 2019. [Kyle Robertson/Dispatch].](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2022/02/11/NCOD/5ef309d7-ea41-49ed-9791-48962b9ab1ff-1026744172_oh_col_shirley.JPG?width=660&height=482&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
‘Come From Away’ characters include one based on generous Dublin resident
The many connections the joy-filled musical “Come From Away” has with central Ohio people is remarkable, and also understandable.
Just as the good people of Gander, and the surrounding towns, helped the thousands of “plane people” after 9/11, our community possesses the same sharing and caring attitude.
Review:Memories of 9/11 fade, but message of hope, humanity in ‘Come From Away’ lingers
There was an important omission, however, in the Feb. 6 article, “Not just ‘the 9/11 musical’.”
The story omits our own Shirley Brookes-Jones, who has a character in the play fashioned after her.
On her way home to Columbus on the plane after our national disaster, Shirley started a scholarship fund for the children of the townspeople in order to say thank you for all they did and sacrificed.
Her fund is still helping students.
To date 341 scholarships have been awarded and Shirley has returned to Newfoundland 30 times to celebrate the recipients. One of these students, who earned two master’s degrees and a medical degree, is now chief of staff of a hospital. Many others have professional degrees thanks to Shirley, who actively manages the fund.
Mister Rogers’ mother told him when frightening events happened in the world to “look for the helpers.” Shirley Brookes-Jones is yet another remarkable one.
Patricia Wynn Brown, Columbus
Lawmakers must defend public school system outlined in Ohio Constitution
As a lifelong supporter of public schools and volunteer member of many school levy campaigns, I am outraged that our vital property taxes are being sucked away to pay for private, for-profit and religious schools (Feb. 7 column, “School vouchers take public funds; they give neither ‘choice, justice’.”)
Denis Smith: School vouchers not about ‘choice’ or ‘justice,’ but about taking your money
Handing off billions of dollars of public funds over decades to private, for-profit and religious schools is a violation of Ohio’s constitution.
Our constitution states that one system of public education be “thoroughly and efficiently” funded by the state.
Public funds should only go to public schools with publicly elected school boards having fiduciary oversight.
Vouchers:Attorney: Ohio kids merely ‘income statements on a balance sheet’ to school voucher opponent
The separation of church and state are fundamental to the founding of our country. Ohio’s constitution specifically states that “no religious sect” should receive public school funds.
Pouring public school funds into private, for-profit and religious school vouchers has forced more levies on the ballot and cut vital resources for the 95% of Ohio’s children who are enrolled in our public school system.
Lawsuit:100 public schools are suing Ohio, saying EdChoice voucher programs are unconstitutional
The Dispatch has reported on the recent lawsuit by over 100 public school districts, demanding that the state follow the letter of the law in Ohio’s Constitution; public funds only for public schools.
It’s way overdue for the legislature to do the right thing and protect Ohio’s one constitutional system of public schools.
Chip Santer, Columbus
Letters:How to submit a letter to the editor for The Columbus Dispatch
Law to track felons stalled while dangerous criminals walked free
The Reagan Tokes Act languished in the GOP-dominated Ohio legislature for five long years.
How many gun and abortion bills did Republican legislators ram through the system in those five years while dangerous felons walked our streets unsupervised?
Ric Cacchione, Westerville
‘Reckless’ state legislators should be held accountable more often
After reading the Feb. 9 article “Lawmaker: Cut school board terms” regarding the proposed bill of State Rep. Mike Loychik (R-Cortland) to have school board members elected every two years rather than four, I think this is a brilliant idea!
School board elections:Ohio GOP lawmaker wants to force ‘reckless’ school board members to run every two years
But why limit the change to school board members?
State legislators have more power over more of our lives than mere school board members. Given their greater power, I feel we should require state legislators to stand for re-election even more frequently. I would propose that state legislators stand for election on a daily basis, given the mischief they can create.
To paraphrase Rep. Loychik, voters should have the chance to hold reckless state legislators accountable more frequently. Legislators such as Mike Loychik.
Christopher Gallutia, Reynoldsburg
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