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FROM A READER

Published: March 14, 2009

Editor:

Exasperated is the first word I can think of to describe how I feel about Mark Schantz's op-ed page column on school crossing guards.

First, crossing guards are a much-needed and much-appreciated part of our communities. They are trained to meet every Florida Department of Transportation standard and are required to attend a 4-hour refresher course before each school year.

They are not out there setting their own rules and running the intersections in a reckless manner. If this were the case, children as well as crossing guards would be getting injured at alarming rates. It doesn't happen.

Crossing guards are not, as Schantz stated, "wannabe cops." That's just silly. They are just trying to make a living and taking on the awesome responsibility, the well-being of someone else's child.

As far as the teachers or deputies taking over, these are two of the most overworked, underpaid and important groups in our work force. They can't be expected to take on this task.

So to Schantz and everyone else driving through school zones, slow down, pay attention and be patient.

Carrie Keesecker
Oldsmar

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