The tragedy in Littleton has affected us deeply. While we are saddened by senseless loss of life, and outraged by the scope of the massacre, we recognize that this event is yet another wake-up call reminding us of the need to provide our children with safe schools.

The restoration of civility, order and safety in public schools was the convention theme of a recent assembly of NYS United Teachers (NYSUT). Ironically, this theme was chosen long before the deadly rampage in Columbine High School. Since 1994, NYSUT has urged state policymakers to pass Safe Schools reforms. At the convention, educators adopted a special resolution issuing a plea for more alternative programs; support services; violence prevention training; guidance counselors and social workers; and confidential hotlines where students can report potential threats and find a sympathetic ear.

Unfortunately, the governor's proposed budget contains severe cuts to education funding. If we are to reverse the culture of violence that is spreading among our youth, it is essential that schools, parents and community work together to give schools the programs and resources they need to improve discipline and ensure school safety. We must urge our legislators to enact measures to help rid schools of violence.

For further information regarding the Safe Schools Act, please visit the NYSUT Web site at www.nysut.org.

Manhasset Education Association

In regard to the recent tragedy in Littleton, Colorado the anti-gun nuts are already blaming it on an inanimate object, completely ignoring the facts of the matter.

Guns have always been kept in the homes of a great number of families. Even more so in the past, but only in recent times has the phenomena of young students going on a shooting rampage and killing multiple victims become all too common. What has changed over the years to cause this change in the behavior of our young people? The availability of guns as a percentage of the population has NOT increased.

The number of single parent homes has increased. The number of working mothers in two parent homes has increased. The lack of respect for authority has increased. Discipline in the public schools has decreased. The idea that it is essential to excel in organized sports, rather than just go out and just play a game, has become believed to be all important. Students are allowed to refuse to say the Pledge of Allegiance to our flag. (Non citizens should not say it but stand at attention.) No prayer is allowed in school even though the vast majority of the students are either Christian or Jewish. Of course the Lord's Prayer is said by all Christians, it is not anti-Semitic. (I once heard a very well known rabbi say that there was nothing offensive to him in it.)

Then we get the proliferation of violence and foul language in movies and TV. I remember when the commander of the United States Marines was giving a speech which was being broadcast on the radio and he used the word "damn." He was immediately cut off and we never heard the rest of the speech on the radio. We have violent wording of so-called songs used by certain music groups. We even have violent wording in some of the books in our schools. (We do not need to teach foul language in school, the students will learn it all too soon out on the street.) I'm sure that the list could go on and on, but this is for starters. These are the real causes of the problem.

The importance of the school team winning had become so important in our Manhasset High School that about five years ago a student new to the area was not allowed to play on a team. He was an excellent athlete. The coach said that those already on the team had been playing together for a few years and he did not want to risk disrupting the team. This in a public school where everyone is supposed to be treated equally.

The influence of Sunday School and church has decreased as organized sports are being scheduled during that time. Which is more important in the long run?

Eugene W. Garges Jr.