A correction to the grammar correction I...

A correction to the grammar correction

I missed Jane Casagrande’s column on grammar, but Steve Kemp’s

“corrections” (Grammer column is great, but ... ,” Mailbag Jan. 22)

are questionable, if not downright wrong: (1) Oftentimes the

accusative case direct object should be “whom,” as in “Whom did the

council choose as president?” or “John is the candidate whom the

council elected.” (2) Why are both sentences (“The Rolling Stones is

... “ and “The Rolling Stones are ...” ) incorrect today? Since we’re

dealing with two collective nouns (“Rolling Stones” and “band”),

either version could be considered correct, given the context in

which the sentence is used.

KATHY LANDIS

Burbank

Budget taking wrong education approach

I am addressing the educational funding in Gov. Arnold

Schwarzenegger’s proposed budget. I have written and will continue to

write to the governor and our state legislators regarding the lack of

funding for our schools. It has nothing to do with politics and

everything to do with the well-being of this state and nation. I

believe we need to start treating our public schools as an investment

rather than as an expense; and I don’t see this budget as a step in

that direction.

This budget can be viewed in two ways. You can view it as

increasing educational funding because the numbers are higher or you

can view the funding as inadequate because it falls short of

fulfilling Proposition 98. However you choose to view the budget,

California’s educational spending is below the national average.

Schools across the state are trying to educate children without

enough textbooks. Classrooms are staffed with a revolving door of

substitutes instead of permanent teachers.

In Burbank, we are fortunate to have a community with the means to

keep the basics -- paper, pencils, teachers and textbooks -- in our

classrooms. Not all communities are so blessed. And even here, we

have seen a reduction in school nurses, counselors and services due

to cuts in past budgets.

The way I see it, if corporations can lobby for their piece of the

budget pie, then I, as citizen and taxpayer, can ask for our

children’s piece. I do hope that others will join me in writing,

because I believe our children and communities deserve better.

MARIAN MOTZ

Burbank

Salute to a longtime Burbank business

With building projects and worries of mansions looming above the

hills of this city and even more worries of traffic congestion, we

tend to forget about the smaller and simpler things in Burbank --

places and businesses that have endured the changing climate. I am

referring to Bob Olneys Mug Shop on Burbank Boulevard.

I am 37 and remember this small but obviously profitable business

always being there in the same location. Recently I saw signs stating

that the business was for sale. I am hoping that this decision is

because the owner has decided that after so many years, he or she has

decided to step down and look back and be proud of owning a business

that wasn’t flashy or the latest craze.

I remember going into that shop when I was a very young boy and

buying my grandparents a set of mugs -- one saying grandma the other

grandpa -- and I am happy to say they still have those mugs. So,

here’s to the mug shop. Let’s hope it is not gone for good.

BRIAN COOPER

Burbank