To the Editor:

This comes straight from the heart: In the July 7-13 issue of North Country This Week I read on the front page that “27% of SLC Children Live in Poverty.” Also, “Of Those Families with Female Heads of Households and Children Present, 42.4% Live in Poverty.”

Would you please read those facts again and let it touch your heart. Ask yourself, what kind of world will we soon be living in here in the North Country?

On top of that, children are not being educated in our local schools, despite the fact that we are giving the education system oodles of tax dollars for that purpose.

Teachers, principal and superintendents are apparently not making work plans that they follow so there is a continuation of what is being taught from pre-kindergarten all through their schooling – right to graduation day.

So is this why they can’t find good teachers? What in the world do principals and superintendents do all day in their offices? I have asked that question at public school board meeting since as far back as 1968 to 1970. “One” replied once, I ‘m busy, you should follow me around!” I replied, “Gladly, just give me a call. He never called.”

Principals and superintendents should be in those classrooms weekly. Is it because they are just there for money? Therefore, who cares if the children graduate without being properly prepared for getting employment. This simply can’t continue to go on!

When Gov. David A. Paterson was getting ready to leave office, he commissioned the Camoin Study which cost the state taxpayers millions of dollars, to find out how we in NY could lower the high taxes we pay. They found the only way is to eliminate the county legislature and village governments that other states don't have. Nothing was ever done. Now, we have so much government, it is hard to keep track of them all. So is that why so many of them are stealing our tax dollars? Even Gov. Cuomo’s best friend?

Recently, our 15 St. Lawrence County legislators wanted to raise their salaries from $9,000 a year to $14,500 – for what? So they can spend more money that St. Lawrence County taxpayers simply don't have?

We didn't always have a county legislature. So lets go back to the board of county supervisors who are close to the people they represent and will be able to make better judgment decisions before we find this has all gone too far and nothing will be able to be done to correct all the injustice we are all witness to now.

Please care and speak out. Lets help those who can’t help themselves.

Barbara Seguin Doe

Waddington