I applaud Adair Doran’s “My Turn” column in Monday’s paper. However, I wonder how many of the powers who control our children’s education read the history of being short-changed that she documented since 1979.

I am appalled that 15 years ago, books were no longer purchased and older books were sent to other schools in anticipation of new books. We do live in a world of technology, but to have a book in your hand, reading words of literature, history or even an explanation of an equation, is an important educational tool to many students

How did we get from $68 in 2008-09 to $15 for a textbook? Why are teachers not helped with master’s degree expenses or with National Board certification? Why do we have an Education Lottery in N.C. when one wonders where the windfall promised has not benefited education? Why have teachers lost longevity pay and a substantial increase in salary?

Perhaps there is excitement about renewal down the road, but this will not happen tomorrow. So what will Rowan-Salisbury Schools and Dr. Moody do about short-changing our students in today’s schools?

— Julie S. Pinkston

Salisbury