Pools, needed extravagance
In response to the comments of Larry Aiken, I would make the point that some perceived “extravagances” in school spending are very important and necessary. I take particular exception to his remarks on the building of swimming pools. My home school district in New Jersey thought as Mr. Aiken did, that pools are an unneeded waste of tax dollars. My home district didn’t listen to arguments that swim lessons and water safety courses would help prevent kids from drowning in nearby bodies of water.
A few years after this debate my best friend and I went swimming in another friend’s small 7 foot deep pool. My best friend Roger never had the luxury of formal swimming lessons nor did he ever have to take a water safety course. To make a long story short, after about an hour of swimming I had to rescue my best friend. I pulled his then lifeless body out of the pool.
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Because none of us had a water safety course we weren’t well versed in CPR and we had to get our friend’s father to help us. While Roger was getting help from our friend’s father and some good Samaritans who stopped and helped, I had to call my best friend's mother and explain to her what happened and have her meet us at the hospital. I don’t wish that experience on anyone! Thankfully Roger made a full recovery. He went on to be the first member of his family to graduate from college and is living well with his wife and two children in Newark, Delaware.
I urge my fellow York County residents to look past their property tax bills. I hate property tax hikes and misspending as much as the next guy, but some things are more important than money. Many children in York County live near water, but do not have the personal finances for or do not see the need for swimming lessons. In these instances it is right and proper for local governments to step in and help out. It will save lives!
Matt Marcini
Springettsbury Township
A school pool turned out to be the instrument leading a student to find his life's career.
He was introduced to swim lessons at an early age. A move to a new school district with a pool introduced him to Red Cross water safety classes, lifeguard classes and lifeguard instructor training.
Area public pools in need of lifeguards led him to a first job at age 15. His cool head and maturity led him to teaching swim lessons to youngsters at the very same location where he first took swim lessons.
Adults were amazed at his abilities. He was often thought to be 18 or 19 years old when he was just 15.
When his college years arrived he chose elementary education as a major. He graduated and currently works as an LIU teacher. He married, he's a father and he takes his little girl for swim lessons. Hopefully she will have the same opportunity to learn at a school pool as did her father.
Ummm, you do know that the YMCA and YWCA have pools, don't you? And they give swimming lessons. And CPR classes. You chose not to learn these thing and, therefore, pools are required for public schools? I guess you skipped the logic classes too, right?