In 1990 I moved to Fayette County for a couple of reasons. First and foremost was that with school-age children, Fayette offered one of the best school systems in the state. Secondly, the quality of life is outstanding. Thirdly it is close to the airport and, yes, I am a pilot.

On Sept. 21 the pitiful turnout at the polls combined with some extremely selfish attitudes just reduced the two most important reasons I (and I believe most of you) moved here. We showed that we as a community do not support our school system. This wasn't about “the school board,” this wasn't about “already paying too much taxes,” and this certainly wasn't about “controlling growth.” This, pure and simple, was about reducing class sizes, eliminating trailers, improving technology, and, yes, even providing better athletic facilities (whose primary purposes are for daily physical education classes).

So why did people vote no? According to the newspaper, there was the “I don't have kids in the system so why should I care and support it?” group; the senior citizens, who in addition to falling into the first category, also know that they are exempt from some school taxes and don't desire to pay for schools through sales taxes (at least this is somewhat reasonable); and the “anti-growth” people. There was also my personal favorite, the guy who saw this as a “liberal plot to steal your money” by a bunch of people “smoking the liberal crack pipe.” But the question is, Were they right in their thinking? Of course not!

If you fell into the first category, shame on you! This is a community. To be part of the community it is your duty to support local issues, and education is first and foremost. If your kids don't use public schools, that is a choice, your choice. It doesn't relieve your responsibility to the community. If your kids have already left the system, how dare you fail to support those who follow! Who do you think paid for your kids? You too are part of the community and you still need to participate.

And that also goes for the seniors. Someone paid for your children, and someone will pay for your grandchildren. You expect us to continue to support you with Social Security, Medicare, and senior centers, but you suddenly feel exempt from your community responsibility.

The bottom line is that we as a nation have been complaining for years about the quality of education, and some of you have complained the loudest. Now when you are asked to help improve the local education system, you grab your wallets and run home. You should be ashamed. If nothing else you just gave up your right to complain.

And what's up with Mr. Avrit and the anti-growth group? According to the newspaper this guy spent his hard-earned cash to wage an anti-SPLOST telephone campaign. The call I got was so filled with lies that I am embarrassed that he was identified as a fellow pilot. It is one thing to oppose something, but, assuming the call I got was the one he paid for, it is morally and ethically wrong to fill the airwaves with outright lies in order to secure defeat.

And will this stop growth? Of course not. If you think so, then you are either naive or just plain stupid. The only way it will stop growth is by destroying the schools and deteriorating the quality of life, the very reasons we all moved here! Will you still want to live here? And what will be the value of that nice big house you built?

There are valid ways to control growth, most of which I wholeheartedly support. But hurting the school system is not one of them. This convoluted theory would be like controlling immigration by turning the U.S. into a third world nation so people won't want to come here. What a great idea!

But the real evil in this is the apathy. Seventy-eight percent chose not to vote. And I bet they will be among the biggest complainers when overcrowding really kicks in.

Well, it is embarrassing. This county, one of the richest in the state, has shown that we talk big but when it comes to putting our money where our mouth is, we are the biggest cheapskates in the state. It's a pretty sad statement about our community, but, what the heck, my kids graduated from the number one school system in the state and are in the college of their choice. Hope you will be able to say the same.

Oh, one other thing, for all of you who constantly berate our school board, can we expect to see your name on the next ballot? For that matter, can we even expect to see you attend a school board meeting? I didn't think so.

Jim Stinson
Peachtree City

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