Letter to the Editor - Published March 27, 2002 in the Piscataquis Observer:
To the editor:
I wanted to recognize the fifth grade team at Piscataquis Community Middle School, Mr. Bellemere, Fierce Chase and all the teachers and volunteers who pulled off the 6-week ski program, both alpine and cross country. It was an inspiring experience for my doaughter and one my husband and I could not have provided alone. This is excellence at work in our community.
We can all hope that these kinds of programs, and ones academically based, such as the laptop computers, will keep our children's self-esteem and aspirations high. It's certainly my hope that these kids will start businesses, enter the professions, become skilled trades and crafts people and, when they settle, keep their skills in our area.
Angela DeRosa, Wellington
The following message is from a parent in our district. Just for a frame of reference: Will is now in the 9th grade, he is one of the kids who had an iBook all last year.
My James (4th grade) came home yesterday and had to do a book report. I told him to start getting his thoughts together and do a rough draft while I went to the grocery store. When I got home, he had that done and wanted me to correct his spelling, etc. I told Will to go help his brother while I put the groceries away. Will told him that he was crazy to do all that writing. He should have done it on the computer. Will then typed the rough draft on the computer, showed James how to fix his work, spell check, etc. Very proudly, Will said, "See how much time that saved you. Now Mrs. Smith can read your paper easily." James said that this was great except it had to be in cursive writing. Will then changed the font and "magically" it was in cursive! James with those big blue eyes told his brother that he didn't think that was what she had in mind, took the printed sheet, and copied it over. Will told me that he thought the 4th grade had better get with it! Send those laptops to 4th grade!