JUSTICES TO HEAR SCHOOL PLEDGE CASE
That was the headline in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel Wednesday, October 15.

There is no reason for this issue to even be brought up - let alone at the highest courts in the land. That infernal U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit in San Francisco in February had ruled that it was unconstitutional to have teachers lead children in the Pledge at the beginning of school each day. Just one more attempt to ban any form of patriotism for this great country and to tear down any form of Spiritual foundation for our citizens. Just what is the present generation of children going to believe when they reach adulthood? Absolutely nothing - and that's just what the Socialists want for this country; a group of people who have no thoughts of their own and who are easily led around so they will have no resistance to the takeover of our country. Folks, please wake up. Let's all contact our Congressmen and Senators in Washington, our President and his Cabinet;

The Supreme Court Justices and anyone else you can think of. Tell Congress to remove

this issue from the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. Congress has that authority, but just doesn't have the guts to do anything about it. Come on Congressman Jeff Miller, be the leader!

I'M DISAPPOINTED
In my last issue of Fourth Dimension, I asked that individuals author a prayer for this great county and its leaders in 100 words or less and send to me. I want to collect these prayers and than, hopefully, publish them so others can see what citizens in this area truly feel about our great country. I got only a very few. Please take the time to send yours now.

WAY TO GO FLORIDA
I'm extremely proud of the representatives and senators from our part of the State for having the courage to vote to give Governor Bush the power and authority to intervene in the Terri Shiavio case. Now we will have to wait and see what other "legal" events will become involved in this sad case. Hopefully someone will look into the medical reports and then determine what some of the injuries could have resulted from. That husband sure seems to be in a hurry, doesn't he? Don't know why because he's already living with another woman and having children by her. Your thoughts!

THANKS GULF POWER
I want to personally thank Gulf Power and its parent organization, The Southern Company, for sponsoring the annual "Partners for Prosperity" Symposium. I attended Monday and Tuesday, October 27 and 28 and found it to be extremely interesting as is the usual case. I just wish more individuals throughout Northwest Florida could have the opportunity to attend and learn more about our great area and what it has to offer - as well as what we can expect for the future.

DISTURBINE HEADLINES
Some headlines and stories that really disturbed me recently include:

"Audit DCF Misspent $1 Million". This articled appeared in the Sun-Sentinel in Ft. Lauderdale Sunday October 19. What a shame that the Department of Children and Families just can't seem to get a handle on its operations. I would give my eye teeth to be given the authority to head that organization for one year. I'd make some differences, and I'd make sure people understood (from the lowest to the highest officers) that each individual is to be held responsible and will be fired, and even prosecuted in things are not done correctly. There's just no excuse for this mismanagement.

"No Time to Waste in Overhauling Schools: Collapsed Ceiling is a Warning to Fix Schools". This was the lead Editorial headline in the Miami Herald Sunday, October 19. The editorial talked about the fact that a ceiling in the media center collapsed at Southwest Senior High the weekend before. Thankfully it happened on the weekend when no one was around. This accident could have been a disaster. Miami/Dade continues to have troubles with its school systems. However, when we think of what the Teacher Union has done in that county and how much money was misspent without anyone catching it..well, maybe it's just become a way of life there. I don't accept that as an excuse and I feel the Legislature and the Governor should just move in and take over the system. Maybe we could get former Lt. Governor, Frank Brogan to take a leave of absence from his University Presidency job and run the Miami/Dade system for a year or two to straighten it out. Perhaps our Don Gaetz, Okaloosa Superintendent of Schools and John Rogers, Santa Rosa Superintendent could also be encouraged to spend a little time in the South Florida "jungle" to help things along.

"Church Helps Students in After-School Program". That headline was in The Herald Journal, Monticello, Indiana, Monday, October 8. I read the article while waiting to have a tire fixed. Because I was so interested the lady said it was o.k. for me to take the paper since it was already three days old. "In the community of Monon," the article said, "children always have a place to go in Monon: First Baptist Church." This church operates an after school program that's free and open to any child in the community. It offers all worlds: adult supervision, tutoring for school work; snacks, lessons and entertainment. It's open to children in first through fifth grades at North White Elementary School. Approximately 50 students are participating in the program. They are picked up and bussed from the school to the Church where there are five adult volunteers who assist. Activities include golfing, cooking, sewing, cross-stitching and basketball. The church pastor, Steve Birch, who tutors one of the groups, believes the after school program has multiple goals. He said the program is conducted to extend the mission of the church, to serve the community and to benefit the children.

Wouldn't it be great if all churches throughout the nation could find time in their schedules to conduct such worthwhile programs?

SUGGESTED READING
I don't normally agree with TIME magazine; however, I highly recommend that you get a copy of the November 3, 2003 issue There are two articles that should be "must reading by those with children in schools and elected school boards and others. The first article is headlined: "How the Teachers Killed a Dream " which is an account of how the Detroit Federation of Teachers (DFT) led a furious, and scurrilous, campaign against the generosity of Bob Thompson who offered to build 15 small schools in Detroit to the tune of $200 million - as a gift. He made his offer since recent studies indicate that small schools with specialized curriculums have much lower drop out rates and higher college-admission rates than the traditional education factories. Detroit Mayor, Kwame Kilpatrick and Governor Jennifer Granholm were thrilled by Thompson's offer - at least until the Detroit Federal of Teachers made plain its opposition. On September 25, the DFT held a work stoppage, which closed the public's schools, and staged a rally at the state capitol in Lansing. The mayor withdrew his support and Thompson withdrew his offer soon after. But, read the whole article, something good may still come from the offer. Way to go, Teacher Union, kill opportunities for children.

The other article is headed, "Medicating Young Minds: Drugs have become increasingly popu8lar for treating kids with mood and behavior problems. But how will that affect them in the long run?" Dr. Glen Elliott, director of the Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute's children's center at the University of California, San Francisco, "The problem is that our usage has outstripped our knowledge base. Let's face it; we're experimenting on these kids without tracking the results."

When I was a member of the Florida House of Representatives, I tried over and over to get some definitive study begun on the growing use of Ritalin by young children in our schools. No one wanted to touch the subject. Don't you think this is an important subject that needs a lot more attention?

ADDITIONAL READING
Let me highly recommend "Who's Looking Out For You?" by Bill O'Reilly. Another is "America Extinguished: Mass Immigration and the Disintegration of American Culture" by Samuel T. Francis. And you won't be able to put down "FISH". This is a short book by Stephen Lundin and is a remarkable way to boost morale and improve results.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"The U.S. is dealing with the consequences of success. Our resolve has made us immeasurably more secure since Sept. 11, 2001. Yet history will judge us on how well we maintain our accomplishments in Afghanistan and Iraq. Our war on terror has achieved great initial results. Now we must finish the difficult phase of ensuring the fruits of our victory" ( Gen. Barry R. McCaffrey, USA-Ret)

QUESTION OF THE WEEK
If you attended the Northwest Florida Fair at the Okaloosa County Fair Grounds in Fort Walton Beach, what did you like the best and what did you like the least?

Comments should be sent to:  jmelvin@gulf1.com