Let’s rename the entire city for Bob...

Let’s rename the entire city for Bob Hope

I have been resisting it, but now feel compelled to weigh in on

the proposed “Bob Hope” Airport. I agree with those who say there is

no need to rename it, especially at a cost of $250,000, not to

mention the cost to the various airlines, map makers, printers of

tourist brochures, etc.

Perhaps we should consider another solution -- just rename the

whole city for Mr. Hope and be done with it!

David Lessley

Burbank

Students deserve more credit than they receive

I admire the students who have spoken out in favor of a revised

cell-phone program in Burbank schools, and I was very disappointed in

the editorial in the Oct. 4 Leader.

Every responsible entity in our society must be ready to adapt to

changes as they come along, and that includes technological advances,

including cell phones. I know because I have a 14-year-old Burroughs

son, and just from being exposed to him and his many friends, male

and female, these young adults for the most part of very responsible

in their thoughts and decision-making.

In many ways, I would trust important matters to them before I

would to the great majority of immature so-called “adults” I come in

contact with directly or indirectly.

These kids are subjected to unwarranted negativity so very often.

This includes verbal abuse and harassment from the Burbank Police

Department. If you doubt this, the next time you see a kid or kids

being confronted by cops in our town, move in closer for a listen,

and you will be shocked at the four-letter words spewed out by

Burbank’s “finest” and the direct and indirect threats made toward

the kids.

Think the kids have it easier in schools these days? I would

imagine anyone without kids in high school is totally unaware that

the schools have completely done away with hallway lockers for

students.

The reason, I have learned, was because it would deter kids from

bringing drugs into school. Thus, every student now has to carry his

or her backpack around all day long, every day. These backpacks can

weigh easily 25 pounds or more.

I recently spoke with an educator from Texas, and when she heard

this, she just rolled her eyes and said the school district had

better prepare for some healthy lawsuits. I hope she is right. Maybe

the administrators should strap their computer screens to their own

backs and carry them around all day just to keep things “fair.”

John Widener

Burbank

Students survived before cell phones, why not now?

In reply to Mr. Matthews’ letter (Leader, Oct. 1), I do believe he

has a valid point with the school board’s policy toward cell phones.

But unfortunately, the masses suffer when some can’t follow the

rules.

I believe that a majority of students didn’t follow the rules, and

that is why the [existing policy] was put into effect. Students can

use the phone before school and after school, that is why students

can carry them or leave them in their lockers.

I am a graduate of Burbank High School (before cell phones

existed). How did we survive? If there was a family emergency, our

parents either came to the school to notify us or they phoned the

school’s office and they notified us.

Matthews stated in his letter that he received nine missed calls

while he was in school and three were family emergencies. Did his

family ever try to phone the school to contact him? I have a cell

phone now and if I get nine calls a week, it’s a big amount. I

survived, and I think you will, too.

GENE CECCHINI

Glendale

Maybe his parents

were right, after all

When I read your editorial on cellular phone use among BUSD

students, my first thought was “You sound like my parents!” But then

I remembered that during my upbringing my parents were (and still

are) rational, level-headed adults who could distinguish important

issues from unimportant ones. Cellular phones are now a fact of life

in U.S. and world society, and using them to talk to one’s friends in

school is not that different from talking in person to one’s friends

in school.

The same rules of etiquette that apply in school to talking apply

also to cell-phone use: You don’t do it during class, and you don’t

do it in the hall so that you are late to class. Trying to ban

cell-phone use is futile, but more important, it is unnecessary and

counterproductive. Burbank Unified and every other school district

has to come to grips with the fact that cell phones are becoming an

indispensable accouterment of modern society. One of the school’s

roles is to help students learn to use them appropriately in this

society.

Richard Sposto

Burbank