Heating a school building is more expensive than the cost of books, teachers or technology. Cooling a building in summer typically costs even more than heating that same space in winter.
Installing more air conditioning systems will increase spending for utilities. When school funds are used to pay utilities, that money is not available for education needs such as books or teacher salaries.
Is this the best way to use our education dollars?
Carl Schuetz, Timonium
Rove must answer Congress' queries
Again last week, we saw the arrogance of former White House adviser Karl Rove as he refused to testify before House Judiciary Committee ("Rove ignores congressional subpoena," July 11).
There is no doubt that Democrats in Congress have been trying to nail Mr. Rove by any means necessary for years. However, this controversy is a serious matter.
When the Justice Department is known to prosecute people or fire people based on their political ties, the United States is taking a step toward tyranny.
Mr. Rove needs to testify before the American public and state what he knows of the matter. To let him get away without doing this would set a dangerous precedent that could allow public officials to hide behind confidentiality to avoid accountability.
Ryan Martin, Essex
Small aircraft aid small towns
The recent column by Chuck Collins and Sarah Anderson ("Seeking a sign of CEO excess? Look up in sky," Commentary, June 27) couldn't have missed the mark more by characterizing smaller aircraft as corporate jets for the rich.
Contrary to what the giant airlines would have you believe, these small aircraft are used mostly by businesses and organizations that serve as a lifeline to smaller communities that are largely ignored by the commercial airlines. In fact, 85 percent of the businesses that use general aviation are small to mid-sized.
Additionally, farmers, manufacturers, charities and medical personnel utilize small airplanes to give rural communities access to goods and services they may not otherwise be able to receive.
These pilots play by the rules while building and sustaining the communities that are the very backbone of our nation's economy.
Mike Henry, Easton
The writer is airport manager for the Easton Airport.
Provoking Iranians isn't in our interest
The Sun's editorial "Saber-rattling" (July 11) describes the military threats that the U.S. and Israel have been making against Iran and Iran's response to them.
The editorial makes two important and correct points. A House resolution seen as calling for a naval blockade of Iran is needlessly provocative, and an unprovoked attack on Iran by Israel would inflame the region with little benefit for U.S. interests.
The United States must not allow Israel to drag us into another disastrous war - this time with Iran.
Our elected officials need to begin to dialogue and negotiate with Iran, a country that is no direct threat to us.
We need a Middle East policy that finally puts America's interests first, not Israel's.
Ray Gordon, Baltimore
Take flag display to White House
On the letters page on July 4, there was a picture of James F. Barry of Chestertown, who planted more than 4,000 small white flags in his yard to remind us of the painful losses in Iraq ("Moving monument for fallen soldiers," July 4).
A larger version of this display of flags should be planted on the lawn of the White House, as close to the building as possible.
Henry Seim, Glen Arm
