-opinion

Our , Readers Write Daycare Benefits Adult, Not Child

To The Editor: Last November, at a PTA meeting, Oliver J. West, principal of Maud Abrams Elementary School, extolled the virtues of the After-School Day Care Program in much the same way as your article of July 10. Also, several times throughout the school year, my first grade son carried home advertisements of the program that would have excited the imagination of any child. But I had a question for Mr. West: If the program is needed, why is it necessary to "sell" it? Mr. West refused to answer the question (That's not even ethical on the part of a public administrator. let alone polite. ) But after the meeting, a fellow parent working on the daycare committee informed me that due to a survey made the previous year, the program was found to be most necessary; and the low (at that time) enrollment was blamed upon lack of knowledge. I REPLIED that I recalled that survey. It stressed the high number of latch-key children in the area, and then asked the respondent if he/she would be in favor of or opposed to an After-School Day Care Program for these children Naturally. 100 percent would respond favorably to a question posed in such a way — but is that indicative of a personal need? No! Furthermore, the program as it stands now is for any parent who chooses to use it — not just parents of "latchkey" children. LET'S FACE IT : daycare of any kind does not benefit the child; it benefits the adult. When a child spends 11 or 12 hours in the care of teachers who are not attuned to the Animal Owner Responsible To The Editor: After attending the July 15 1-ower Township Council work session. I am convinced that perhaps the president of the Animal Welfare Society is actually anti cat. Her proposal to neuter and spay all the cats in Lower Township with the already overburdened taxpayer's taxes supplementing the cost, and her additional suggestion that the township pass an ordinance whereby an owner of a cat that has kittens would be fined, has led me to that conclusion. I low shall we perpetuate the feline ; after all they do catch mice, or shall they become extinct as almost happened to the Bald Eagle, and become an endangered species'' ( Will certain cats Ik- exempt ? Will a blackmarket for cats now emerge? Will Lower Township become the first community to be free of cats? How high will the fences have to he to keep an out-of-town pregnant cat from entering Ixiwer Township'.' NOW. Tt> BE SERIOl'S, we all know that unwanted pets are a problem It "s a condition that has persisted for many years, but it's not a problem for the already overburdened taxpayer to have to bear If one can afford an animal one can surely be held respon sible for its care, and the cost of that care As for the "wild" cats, there is no way they are going to be brought in to be neutered, and for the one or two who might be caught five others will remain free I think I^ower Township should continue to address the problems that so overwhelm the township, such as trash, water, sewerage, and spend less time on subjects like the "pill'" and cats. I surely hope we now don't begin a crusade to ban the t laughing gull. ROSEMARY FERRIS ("ape May Beach

individual needs of each child, no parent and no educator can say that the child's development is being promoted or enhanced. Sooner or later, the child experiences a longing for mother and home. The nice teacher, the best friends, the fun activities can no longer substitute. And I absolutely deplore the inference that all children would be better off in the After-School Day Care Program than at home. "WE ARE LIVING in times when there are voices which denigrate the human family and even cry for its dissolution or its recomposition. I cannot identify the voices of child psychologists among.them," writes child psychologist Selma Fraiberg in her book, "Every Child's Birthright: In Defense of Mothering." The fact that some children are deprived is not a wise or logical reason to penalize and harm all children and parents by taking the children from the home and turning their minds over to the state during their most formative years. Yes. there is a persistent drive toward earlier age and all-day schooling. "IF CONGRESS or the bureaucrats were to come right out ad proclaim that they were going to take America's children from parents and home and put them all under Federal control, custody, and ownership, the parents of America would rise up in protest and indignation. The program would be reminiscent of Hitler's children. So. what is bad must be disguised to appear good or at least economically beneficial in order to be sold to an unsuspecting citizenry." (Congressman John Rarick, Congressional Record. Sept. 17, 1971) History is replete with examples of voluntary programs which later became mandatory; it is the rule, not the exception. Think about it, parents. If the program is needed, why is it necessary to sell it? Why are all these "wrothwhile activities" offered after school instead of during school (it makes a conscientious parent wonder if his child isn't missing something, and isn't that the intention)? And how can so much — worthwhile activities, field trips, nutritious snacks, transportation, and certified teacher supervision — cost so little? It certainly makes me wonder... MRS. CHERRI OLSEN VILLAS r Letters Welcome a I he Herald. Lantern and Dispatch welcome letters to the editor on matters of public interest. Originals, not copies, are requested. Writers must sign name address and phone number lv )

( fltritii V ffifilill f By TIm hmn Cor»o»tl«« PO. B«. 430 H«y Cwm Ho—. NJ OMI O Joseph R. Zclnik % Editor Bonnie Reina General Manager Gary L. Rudy Advertising I lireetor John Dunwoodv Special Promotions Director Darrcll Kopp Publisher DEADLINES News & Photos Thursday Advertising Friday — 3 P.M. Classified Advertising Friday — 3 P.M. 465-5055 For News or Advertising Information — *""• '" *- J# CAPE MAY fitraUk-Oispatcfi \ tin $ I By Ttm Cii|i*i«»« V. r.O «SO May Cwrt Hmm. HJ. «tttt /M

'Harry was enthusiastic about the tax revolution until he realized he gets a certain satisfaction ferreting loopholes out of the old system.' • County, Not Dennis, Has the Problems To The Editor: I was at the meeting when the freeholders told us that the problem of truck traffic, etc. is the problem of Dennis Township and a police force is the solution. I have to disagree with them. Back when the M.U.A. was started, the Dennis Township Committee agreed that we would have nothing to do with the M.U A. or do anything that pertains to it. The freeholders also said that the Sheriff Department could not do the job and made }he statement that it would not be fair to the rest of the county to pay for our police work It sounded like Dennis Township was asking for a free . ride. WELL THIS IS WHERE I differ with them. The first thing, it is not Dennis Township's problem. Why not? We didn't need a landfill, we do not need gravel to fill our lots, and we don't need any sewer plants Now tell me. whose problem is it? Everything and every time Cape May County needs a dump site, they want to put it in Dennis Township. Why can't we afford a police force'' The state has taken better than half of our township for campground and state forest, a big portion for gravel holes that went to the beach areas to fill in their lots. No sir. we don't have a problem The freeholders do and I think Cape May County should help pay for it, or is that asking too much for what has been taken from us? HOWARD E WALIZER Dennisville

i— We Know What Worries You

Say 'Hi' to Your Mirror

Bv JOE ZELN'IK This is an inter-olfice secret. Out some ot the ad people here have been going nutsy lately because a couple prospective accounts chose to throw away their money for some full-color, total-ad things that sit around ignored on motel office floors As an editor who hates to see MY story in any other paper. I can understand how they feel In an effort to boast the ad reps' morale, we're inaugurating a new policy, at great expense to the company, that w ill select a salesperson of the week w ho will be awarded a commemorative plaque < for that week >. the parking spot closest to the door t for one week i. and a 48-hour pass to visit loved ones after Uibor Day And to help in the never-ending battle for advertisers' dollars. I've been placed in charge of a special Market Research Division to learn what people who patronize advertisers are thinking. I DID THIS by installing one-way mirrors in altout 25 per cent of the homes and 50 percent of the motel rooms in the county. That's the best way to learn what people are thinking and saying when they think they're alone i Incidentally, although this has nothing to do with advertising. but know ing reader interest in sociological trends. I shopld report that 37 percent of the people staying in those motels are not married to each other and 71 percent of the 37 percent never will he > What we found from tiehind the mirrors is that most men are concerned about pattern baldness and athletes foot, and most women are worried aiwiut wrinkles 'theirs' and pat tern baldness i their men's • Armed with this data, our ad people will he pushing pharmacies to advertise products to alleviate those conditions ANOTHER CONC'LL'SION. from our side of the mirrors, is that those competitors' lull-color ads of thin people sitting at tables sagging beneath lobsters and steaks and seafood combinations and wine and all the trimmings are simply antagonizing readers. They are very sophisticated and know darned well that if anyone ate that much food, he'd throw up Instead, we have found that a black and white ad in our paper showing a slightly overweight person sitting in front

ot a plate of cottage cheese is much more successful. Most people can identify with the honesty in that ad and respond to it. We have found only one complaint about the ads in this newspaper Many people remarked, in the privacy of their homes, that there are not enough underwear ads. This is a legitimate charge and we'll soon be offering lower rates to advertisers willing to feature underwear THIS IS A COMPETITIVE business and if you just stand still, you'll find somebody gaining on you That's why we're always trying new things Some are good; some not-so. For example, the general manager wanted to rent the Mosquito Commission helicopter and hover over crowded beaches while I read my column and some restaurant ads over a Public Address system I was willing, hut I drew the line w hen they wanted me to climb dow n a rope ladder and take up a collection Most of the ideas, however, are excellent Especially mine: Prompted hy a pitch I received from American Express that "quite frankly, not everyone qualifies for American Express and rarer still are those who receive a second invitation to join." we have decided to use a little snob ap peal We are working with the county Probation Depart ment to have persons sentenced to Community .Service stationed alongside stacks of our papers to deny them to every fifth person on grounds of inadequacy. That may cause a few riots at first, but in no time at all we expect the public to have a heightened respect < and pas sionate desire, for our product that will nib off on poten lial advertisers WE ALSO ARE awaiting approval from the American Dental Association for a claim that people who read this newspaper and brush their teeth have fewer cavities than people w ho don't read this newspaper and don'l brush their teeth. We're working on an advertising campaign that will urge people to fill the cavity in their heads with more county news while fighting cavities in their teeth. If anyone would like to suggest a snappv slogan, mail it to me care of this newspaper Don't send' it to my home my mailbox is already stuffed with death threats