Sounding off: Stop arguing and educate our kids

It seems as if we have forgotten the most important aspect of attending school. We have become so concerned with school mask mandates that we have overlooked the quality of education our children are receiving.

Somehow many parents have equated education with mask-wearing in schools. Our kids have fallen behind in their education and we are arguing about whether they should wear a mask. Why? The mask is being worn to help reduce the risk of spreading covid and hopefully keep school open. That is a fact, and hopefully you don’t stop reading because of my belief of this fact.

What we need to do is stop arguing and use the covid money to hire more teachers ASAP. The federal covid funding is doing nothing for our kids if it remains sitting just out of reach of school districts in the state coffers. Currently, we have students sitting in study halls because of a lack of teachers, and educated teachers with no jobs because districts can’t afford to pay them. The lack of teachers caused by the lack of district money has an obvious fix: Use the covid money to hire more teachers.

Unfortunately, we have elementary kids that are very far behind also and we have local educators with no jobs. Enough is enough. The next generation deserves better from us. Let’s end the mask and vaccine argument and prioritize the children’s education by hiring more teachers everywhere now. Every day wasted is another day our kids fall further behind.

Ken Bach, South Huntingdon

The writer is a former Yough School Board member.

Why our 2-party system works

There have been many negative postings in this forum bashing the two major political parties. I would like to challenge readers to look at the parties in a different light.

Democrats are the dreamers. They push for ways to improve the American ideal. Republicans are the pragmatists. They hold dear what is practical and have the best chance for success.

Democrats tend to push forth new ideas and to try different things. Republicans tend to keep rooted in things that work. Thus, Democrats are more accepting of change, whereas Republicans prefer the status quo.

The forces that push forward and hold back have made this country great. Liberal versus conservative is a wonderful thing we have. The pendulum of power swings from one party to the other and back again. Why? Because it works!

To have a single party be the dominant one, as many here have stated they prefer, would prove futile and could destroy America as we know it.

Richard Patton

Franklin Township, Beaver County

UPMC workers need better wages, better treatment

I’m a housekeeper at UPMC Presbyterian. It’s a backbreaking job. I’m in my 60s and spend my days lifting bags full of wet garbage and linens.

I’ve been here 10 years, and I’m only paid $16.16 an hour. Meanwhile, the staffing crisis means UPMC expects us to do three times more work for no extra pay. It’s unreasonable and disrespectful. We’re all exhausted.

UPMC says it takes care of its workers, but for nearly two years we’ve worked through the pandemic and haven’t seen an extra cent. Now UPMC is insulting us with a $500 one-time check. What we need is a $20-an-hour starting rate. We need a free and fair path to form a union so we can have a voice.

Housekeepers — and all UPMC workers — are essential to making our hospitals function. We’re essential to making Pittsburgh function. And when we need to work overtime just to make ends meet, we don’t have time to spend with our families or at church or organizing for a new bus route. We don’t have time to be people.

Clearly, UPMC doesn’t want us to have a union. They know we’re fed up. They know we’ll demand higher wages and better treatment. And they’re right. It’s time to stand up to powerful health care companies like UPMC.

Nora Kelly, Brookline

Ziccarelli is a GOP token

The article “DA-elect Nicole Ziccarelli burst onto scene, but her rise should not come as a surprise” was appalling.

Ziccarelli is nothing more than a token of the Republican Party. When she ran against state Sen. Jim Brewster in 2020, too much of the district was in Allegheny County, and the Democratic majority in the county saw through the token. Now a year later, the party backed her again for another run and another position that I don’t believe she is qualified to hold. In my opinion, the only reason she won this election was a 20,000 registered voters advantage. If people actually voted for the candidate instead of the party, she wouldn’t have been elected.

John Peck has almost 40 years of experience doing the job as district attorney of Westmoreland County. Zicarelli is 40 years old. He was doing the job when she was born. As a previous letter-writer noted, she has a blog about cooking; maybe she and Tim Carson, a caterer who is now coroner, can get together as two unqualified Republican tokens. Also, Carson doesn’t even know what he wants to be. He was a Democrat until 2012, then switched to Republican. Makes him a Republicrat.

Dave Kolenc, Smithton

A year ago, everyone wanted vaccine; why is it so contentious now?

Thank you for the quote in the article “Big Bird backlash: Vax lands even Muppet in political flap” that reminded me that one year ago, we were all hoping for a vaccine to stem the hospitalizations and deaths from covid. Now that it is available, how did this vaccine, which former President Trump supported through Operation Warp Speed, end up being the source of anger and hostility?

Vickie Oles, Ligonier Township

Brooks is no ‘self-serving fat cat’

Regarding David K. Camblin’s letter “Why didn’t Bob Brooks pay for parade permit?”: You don’t know what you don’t know, Mr. Camblin. I will assume ignorance rather than rudeness in your letter slamming the most generous man I know and have the honor to work for.

Brooks did consider paying for the permit, but when our office inquired, we found out that the generous Volkswagen dealer, Bob Bordanaro, had already donated this year’s parade fee and was recognized after the parade for his generosity. Commissioner Doug Chew also offered to contribute.

A “self-serving fat cat” Brooks is not. In fact, he donates his entire state House salary back to the district. Many of those donations go to veteran programs. He contributed financially to a veterans event earlier this month, but humble men don’t go around advertising what they donate.

Gubernatorial candidate Dave White graciously donated the next two years of parade fees already, so please don’t send this letter again next year!

By the way, it was a Jeep, not a fancy convertible.

Mary Beth Cirucci, Monroeville

The writer works in the Murrysville Office of state Rep. Bob Brooks.

‘Democrat’ label is toxic for candidates

The Democrats are prepared to commit mass political suicide to pass the Biden/Pelosi “Build Back Better “ socialist scam. This bill will add to the deficit and accelerate already out-of-control inflation while further addicting some Americans to government handouts.

The results of the election earlier this month in Virginia, New Jersey, and state and municipal elections nationwide proved that this year having a “D“ after your name is toxic. Here in Westmoreland County, two longtime and very qualified, popular politicians (John Peck and Ken Bacha) lost their jobs to less qualified candidates, probably because of the “D” after their names.

Voting for this bloated socialist spending wish list will end many Democrats’ careers in the upcoming midterm elections. Good riddance.

Ed Davis, Greensburg