Letters

I respectfully disagree with Susan L. Wilder’s sweeping statement in her Oct. 13 “Your Turn” guest column (“Inequities in School System Are Cause for Concern”) that “This country was founded upon the principle that the majority rules” and her suggestion that a ballot referendum could serve to permit public school teachers or coaches to lead students in prayer.

In fact, the Bill of Rights, amending the Constitution of the United States, establishes most emphatically that in certain cases the majority does not rule. The Constitution establishes certain fundamental rights for citizens of this country and establishes that the government may not infringe upon those rights, even if a majority of citizens at any given time favors such an infringement.

The government may not engage in an unreasonable search of a person’s home, even if the majority approves such a search, so long as one citizen objects. The government may not deprive a person of life, liberty or property without due process of law, even if the majority approves, so long as one citizen objects. And the government may not promote religion, any religion, even if the majority approves, so long as one citizen objects.

The Supreme Court of the United States has already determined that it is a violation of the Constitution for a public school employee to lead students in prayer. It is illegal even if no one voices an objection. If a single person voices an objection, such a violation subjects the employee, the school and the school district to a lawsuit.

No employee has the right to expose the school to such a lawsuit, let alone violate the constitutional rights of a single individual simply because the majority thinks it is alright to do so.

Philip A. Bramson

East Brunswick

Disappointed with lack of support for E.B. coach

As a retired teacher, administrator and coach for the South Brunswick School District, I was disappointed with the lack of support for the football coach by the East Brunswick Board of Education and the superintendent of schools in the highly publicized prayer issue.

I’m sure that most of us at one time or another have appealed to a “higher being” to guide or assist us in someway — especially now, when the world is experiencing so many upheavals and extraordinary natural disasters. Many of us are offering prayers for the deceased and help for the survivors. Prayer has been a comfort in dealing with many dilemmas.

Yet here in East Brunswick, Marcus Borden, the high school head football coach, felt obligated to resign in order to uphold his principles dealing with his right to pray along with his players. If students’ rights are protected by the Supreme Court’s decision, are not the rights of adults also safeguarded?

It takes only five members of the U.S. Supreme Court to interpret a situation as being unconstitutional. Their decision requires more than 200 million U.S. inhabitants to follow suit or suffer consequences. Unfortunately, in many situations both jurists and legislators do not actually represent their constituents or the majority of the people. Often they take the path of party lines, social pressures, big business, etc., or one that will deflate the issue and help them retain control.

Since many boards of education are so desirous to uphold the law, calling for separation of church and state, I would recommend that they take the initiative so they can act and not be compelled to react.

It is no coincidence that many of the days when schools are closed coincide with selected religious holidays. If challenged in court, it would be hard to justify the fact that these “days off” are arbitrarily chosen and have no bearing on religious observance.

If boards of education are unwilling to challenge the prayer ruling allowing all to participate, then they should also take the initiative to establish school calendars that might appear to be circumventing the law of separation of church and state.

I pray that a solution can be found that unifies us and does not continue to divide us.

Nick Pazinko

East Brunswick

Monroe residents should question quality of open space

In response to two letters to the editor that appeared in the Sept. 15 issue of the Sentinel, the first written by Edward Goldman (“Local Officials Making Life in Monroe Better and Better”) and the second by Joan Ricci (“Council Dedicated to Preserving Open Space in Monroe”), I, too, would be delighted to have 50 percent open space “saved in Monroe.” But before we congratulate ourselves, we should look just below the surface.

Rather than look at the quantity of “open space” on the list, question the quality. Monroe’s “open space” inventory includes detention and retention basins required for flood control, building code and engineering code, but hardly quality open space. The Monroe Township Council consistently votes to accept acres of retention and detention basins from developers and adds them to our open-space inventory list. These parcels require money for maintenance and insurance.

When you think of open space in Monroe, what comes to mind? Many people believe that open space and Green Acres parcels will remain undeveloped forever. On Monroe’s open space inventory list are “private” golf courses in the adult/retirement communities. Try taking a leisurely stroll through that “open space” — after all, our open-space tax dollars may be used to maintain them. And don’t forget — in an era when most people complain about high taxes, the majority of citizens voted to increase our own taxes, because saving real open land is important. And, as is often reported incorrectly, developers do not generally donate acres of land — they trade off the opportunity to build more houses on smaller lots in another section of town.

How much land has the Monroe Township Council actually purchased to save in perpetuity? Council members Joanne Connolly, Jerry Tamburro and Hank Miller, who are seeking re-election, have presided over the development of Monroe for many years. Please ask them to explain how Monroe’s open space program really works.

Michele Arminio

Monroe

Officials provide superior emergency services in Monroe

With all we have seen during the Hurricane Katrina disaster, the importance of dependable emergency services proves to be paramount to the well-being of a community.

As one of the many senior citizens who live in Monroe, I know firsthand, on a local and personal level, that a call for an ambulance in our township receives a fast and professional response. This has truly been the difference between life and death for many. Our emergency medical technicians are skilled and highly trained and are known for their dedication and commitment.

I have to thank our mayor and Township Council for recognizing how vital it is to provide first-rate assistance and then planning for it and following through with ways to keep improving it by regularly upgrading and updating equipment and offering countless training opportunities. Because of these efforts, Monroe continues to be a role model for outstanding emergency services.

Florence Spencer

Monroe