DEAR EDITOR:
Friday's MDJ listed the winners and losers in this year's Georgia legislative session but failed to mention the children, who are the biggest losers. School programs are being cut, support personnel are being cut, and class sizes are being increased. Some people who support these cuts may not know what some of them mean. Both safety and academic achievement are in jeopardy.

One result is that kindergarten teachers will no longer have another adult present in the classroom to assist if a child is injured or becomes ill. I cited kindergarten because the need here is most obvious. Other grades will also be affected. If a teacher must focus on a child who has had an accident or sudden illness, what happens to the rest of the children? Without support, it is very difficult for the teacher to fulfill the responsibility to provide a safe environment.

When we consider the detriment to academic achievement, we recognize that many children will succeed when class size is increased. However, if we really believe that "no child should be left behind" and that more advanced students should be challenged, we need to address the needs of both ends of the ability spectrum. For their hard work, teachers are rewarded with furloughs, really pay cuts.

If we really care about education, we will fund the programs that will help our children succeed, even if we do have to pay more taxes. Children should be a priority; they are our future.

Ann Rich
Marietta