Wednesday, March 14, 2001

I am an adult and I am writing to defend the seniors' right to drive to school. I have been following this controversy since Kerry FitzPatrick's original letter. The letters written in last week's paper by Bill Webster and R.D. Welch were unbelievable.

Ms. Fitzpatrick wrote in to apologize for the anger her first letter was written in and to better explain her position. Were you two laying in wait for her to write to pounce on her like animals attacking raw meat? Do you treat your peers like this or do you only do this to intimidate teenagers?

I am the parent of three teenagers, one of whom drives to Starrs Mill. Why? Because she has before- and after-school activities and a job immediately after school. Like many parents in Peachtree City, my husband and I have jobs five days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. We do not have the luxury, as you do, Mr. Webster, to be taking our children to and from activities.

And Mr. Welch, do you realize how fortunate you are to able to have the time to leave three hours early? How dare you say that we parents allow our kids to drive for status (you have obviously not seen the vehicles we drive)? Some of us find it a necessity. Maybe the schools should cancel all before/after activities on rainy days and all teens should call in to their employers and tell them they can't work those days because only parents have the right to drive to the school on rainy days.

Kerry had a lot of valid points, which both of you chose to overlook. There are also valid points to the parents who drive their kids. You pointed out that Kerry wrote a "sarcastic" letter but you never even mentioned that sarcastic, pathetic letters written in response to her original letter three were from adults, one was from a Tweety Bird. Teenagers are known to talk sarcastically but there is still time for them to change; you "adults" may be beyond help.

I think we could all learn something if we would take a little time to realize that teenagers do have something to say. If we don't agree with their way of thinking, do we really have to reply hateful? All of you responded like arrogant, antagonistic and pompous jerks. When you respond to a letter, don't use it as a platform to tell all of us how wonderful you are or how you "have it all figured out." You should have it figured out; you are old; teens are still learning. They will get it all figured out, too, but not with responses like yours.

B.A. Melssen

Peachtree City

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