Thanks to youth editor Richard Ross

To the editor:

Thank you for your time and your effort in coming to Fallsburg High School this morning. Your dedication to students and to your work is remarkable. I laud you for your energy. I know that you went more than the “extra mile” to drive over here and to be inspiring to our young people after the night and early morning that you put in.

I trust that you will get some sleep soon.

Larry Schafman, Director of Special Programs

Globalization taking over our school?

To the editor:

Alan Derry, Sullivan West Superintendent, has mentioned on several occasions that the school district is undertaking a study of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program as a possible addition to the curriculum of Sullivan West. Since Mr. Derry has said he will not be officially describing the IB program until the conclusion of a yearlong study by certain (as yet unidentified) teachers of the district, I have sought out information on my own.

The IB program is administered out of Geneva, Switzerland and was originally conceived to help establish international standards of education so that universities would know whether the education of foreign students was sufficient. It has strong ties to the United Nations Education, Science and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which published the following words in its textbook, “Toward World Understanding,” which was supposed to teach UNESCO teachers what to teach, in 1949: “As long as the child breathes the poisoned air of nationalism, education in world-mindedness can produce only rather precarious results. As we have pointed out, it is frequently the family that infects the child with extreme nationalism.” So any American who teaches his or her children to love this country is “infecting” them with “the poisoned air of nationalism”?

These words were written some time ago. However, George Walker, who served as director-general of the IB program from 1999 to 2005, wrote: “The program remains committed to changing children’s values so they think globally, rather than in parochial national terms from their own country’s viewpoint.”

Parents have the responsibility to “change children’s values,” not some foreign educators living overseas. Our forefathers fought to keep elitists “across the pond” from enslaving and subjugating us.

The IB curriculum encourages students to read stories of rape, incest, murder, misogyny, prostitution and even necrophilia. Parents who object to this may be marginalized and patronized by teachers and administrators. An emphasis is placed on critical thinking skills, which are very important, but to the detriment of traditional skills like memorization and basics in math and science.

Furthermore, all students’ coursework and tests are sent to Geneva for grading and become the property of the IBO (International Baccalaureate Organization). So a foreign organization with the stated purpose of undermining national sovereignty around the world will have files on all of our brightest students and will also be involved in programming our students with their failed political philosophy. Does this sound like a program that should be introduced into our school district?

Creative spark alive and well in Livingston Manor

To the editor:

As a weekend resident of Pike County, I spend a lot of time exploring the Delaware Highlands region. Long drives in and around Sullivan County are a regular part of my weekend, and when I can combine a drive with a festival or other event, I do.

Over the summer, I attended the Trout Parade in Livingston Manor and was incredibly impressed with the artwork of the Livingston Manor Central School students. I didn’t realize, however, the ongoing level of artistic commitment and inspiration that existed within the school district. This weekend, I happened to stop in to Peez Leweez for a vanilla chai. I was positively astounded by the artwork on display there as part of the “Manor Reimagined” project. The talent, the originality, the attention to detail and the obvious pride and excitement in the task at hand were nothing short of restorative.

The school district is to be commended for providing an atmosphere of support and innovation for the wonderful teacher, whoever he or she is, who comes up with such creative and engaging projects for such enthusiastic and able students.

Peez Leweez is to be thanked for providing such a visible venue for work that really deserves to be seen. Everything you hope and wish to have happen when young people are exposed to art and challenged to create seems to happen in Livingston Manor. What a wonderful realization for a visitor, and what a wonderful community to support such innovative and excellent work! Congratulations to everyone in Livingston Manor for really embodying the creative spirit.

In Bohdan Kandiuk’s letter “The lessons of history” printed last week, there was a typo in the statement of the period of time during which seven to 10 million Ukrainian peasants died. The correct period is 1932 to 1933.

In the article “Swan Lake Estates on hold while DEC considers permits,” printed in the February 2-8 edition of The River Reporter, Anthony Murolo, developer for Swan Lakes Estates, continues to give inaccurate information regarding his Kelly Bridge Road and Lake Marie Road subdivision. I summarize below some of his claims and the evidence that challenges them.

Murolo said that in January 2005, DEC made a determination that his project would not cause a negative impact and would not threaten any protected species.

It is true that on December 7, 2004 the Town of Liberty Planning Board, as lead agency, signed off on a “negative declaration” on the Environmental Assessment Form stating that there were no potential adverse impacts from the project on the environment, traffic and so on.

However, on January 24, 2005, the DEC Heritage Program in Albany sent a letter to Randel Wasson, the project engineer for Murolo’s company, AJM, stating, “We have no records of known occurrences of state-listed animals or plants, habitats... on or in the immediate vicinity of your site. ... This information should not be substituted for on-site surveys that may be required for environmental assessment.… Your project may require additional review or permits .…”

After residents called the DEC Heritage Program about the presence of American bald eagles’ breeding nests and habitat, a correction letter was sent to Wasson, positively identifying bald eagles at the development site. On May 24, 2005 DEC Region #3 sent a letter to the Town of Liberty Planning Board stating, “We have no record that the Town of Liberty provided the DEC with a copy of the SEQR full Environmental Assessment Form.” The letter requested copies of all related documents, and also requested that the Murolo’s company provide the department with project plans.

How can the DEC have made a determination that Murolo’s project would not cause a negative impact when, in May 2005, DEC Region #3 asked for the site plans so it could make a proper review? Moreover, Murolo can’t plead ignorance about the presence of bald eagles. He stated in an interview with a local paper on May 16, 2005 that he knew there were eagles at the site and considered them a “selling point.”

Another questionable assertion of Murolo’s is his denial that a mudslide that occurred in June of 2005 came from new road construction at the AJM development site. In fact, AJM received a notice of violation from the DEC dated June 13, noting that AJM had not yet applied for a permit for storm water discharges from construction activity required for all projects involving the disturbance of one acre or more. It specifically cited a water quality violation observed on June 6 of 2005.

Subcontractor Mike Nastro also was given a violation summons about that time and agreed to sign a “Compromise with DEC” and pay a fine of $1,000 for “pollution of lake waters in contravention of standards.” As of this writing, Mike Nastro had not signed the agreement and a trial date has been set for April 7. It will be held at the Liberty Town Hall court at 9:30 a.m.

The impact of construction can also be seen in the drainage ditches that line both sides of Kelly Bridge Road. On the opposite side of the road, the water runs clear. On the side of AJM entrance to construction site, the water still runs muddy red to this day.

The problem is not just with one developer, but also with the abdication of oversight by those in authority. The officials in Sullivan County routinely issue negative declarations on the SEQR process without conducting onsite observations. By issuing negative declarations without due diligence, the public notice period for comment becomes limited to what is in the site plan, but not how the plan is put into practice. It is necessary for a lead agency to make sure that all permits are obtained before final approval is granted, because that is the only way communities can ensure that “bad developments,” which ignore or degrade the natural environment, become “good developments” that conserve our natural resources for generations to come.

We must adopt a town law requiring all developments to show proof that all required federal, state and local permits have been issued before any project is finally approved so as to ensure the integrity of the process.