The Pittsburgh Press from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 10

opinion If fOUBUllPIT, I THEY WILL COME. I ThePittsburgh HutMS MADELYN ROSS Mttmpnt Editor J. BRUCE BAUMANN Am. Managing Editor Graphic RUSSELL L. BROWN Aamtant Managing Editor Sports BARBARA J.

GRIFFIN AL Managing Editor Feature RON ROYHAB Aamstant Managing EdrtorNewt ISADORE SHRENSKY Editorial Page Editor assess A Scripps Howard newspaper Established June 23. 1884 Published Daily and Sunday ANGUS McEACHRAN Editor JIMMY E. MANIS General Manager Offices, 34 Boulevard of the Allies, Pittsburgh. Pa. 15230 P.O.

Box 566 Telephone (412) 263-1100 Give tight and the People Will Find Their Own Way 5 aa Climbing the pay ladder LETTERS Dealing with poor in schools hewing to her promise not to raise wage or property taxes, the resulting $1.2 million shortfall will cause layoffs, not of firefighters but of other municipal workers deemed to have lower-priority jobs. The firefighters union president Joseph King, says it would be wrong to blame the layoffs on the union, and we don't But Mr. King's assertion that because the arbitrator ordered the raises, the city must have the money, defies logic. Mrs. Masloff doesn't escape blame in all of this.

Had it not been for a baldly political gesture, the gap caused by the contract award would be significantly smaller. Buffeted by community pressure, Mrs. Masloff in November rejected the advice of an independent consultant and her own fire chief and canceled the planned closing of a turn-of-the-century fire station in Troy Hill. The reversal warmed the hearts of a few hundred protesters who don't believe a newer fire station, just three minutes away, can provide adequate service. But keeping the Troy Hill station in service strips $800,000 in potential annual savings from the coming reorganization.

Before the layoff knife is unsheathed, that decision should be Once again, the city of Pittsburgh has been burned by a contract arbitration award. Mayor Sophie Masloff soon will be shuttling more city workers to the unemployment office to make up for $2 million in raises and assorted goodies parceled out to the city's firefighters by a panel of arbitrators. City services are likely to suffer as a result The three-year contract awards raises of 5 percent this year, retroactive to January, 5 percent next year and 4 percent the year after that The base salary of a firefighter with four years' experience, $31,973 last year, will climb to nearly $37,000 per year in 1994. By contrast a recently settled police contract gave city officers raises averaging 3 and 3.8 percent for this year and next far more in line with reason. But that was a rare exception in the sweepstakes of arbitration, where fiscal reality often is washed away by the flow of gravy.

Fortunately, a proposed Fire Bureau reorganization, eliminating 81 vacant positions and trimming the number of fire companies from the current 61 to 44, withstood a legal challenge by the firefighters union. The city had budgeted $800,000 this year to cover Fire Bureau raises. With Mrs. Masloff A letter intended for publication must be signed and should include the writer's full address and daytime phone number for verification. The Press reserves the right to condense or reject any letter; none can be returned or acknowledged.

FAX letters may be sent to 263-2014. Presidents and schools what he's got in his nose or, better yet what he had in his body that other men are not blessed with. Could it by some chance, be a complete set of female reproductive organs? If so, wouldn't that be the miracle of a lifetime? Well, I think it would be just super-duper terrific. The males could have the privilege and pleasure of bearing babies. There would be no more abortions, no more demonstrations.

The abortion issue would be a thing of the past like the slavery issue. H. JASKOWSKI Brentwood Wafting from west I love Pittsburgh. I love the city skyline, and I love living here. Proud Pittsburghers are concerned with the aesthetic beauty of our city.

What I find to be the big joke is: What does it matter how great our city looks when we practically live next door to the nation's largest toxic waste incinerator? Not enough action or even concern is being leveled against the Waste Technologies Industries complex in East Liverpool, Ohio, by our state and city officials. Why aren't we outraged? It's too close to Pittsburgh. Just remember how the winds brought the smoke here from West Virginia's forest fires. Soon, those winds will be bringing other lovely things for us to breathe, like mercury and lead emissions. MARGARET M.

BEASOM Plum Circus turnoffs With warm weather comes thoughts of the circus coming to town. When I was a child, I got very excited over this event. But as an adult I no longer look forward to this time. I can no longer enjoy seeing the misuse of Goos creatures the terrible confinement to small areas, the questions that run through my mind regarding training, etc. ROSEMARIE BURNS Dormont I read with agitation the April 20 article, "Collapse of 2 -parent homes a hurdle for city schools." Let me object to the tendency of The Pittsburgh Press to promote the idea that schools cannot educate children who are poor and live under adverse circumstances (in single, female-headed households).

Last Sept 8, The Press published an article on "Education Rx Friendship," making excuses for the low achievement of the students there by citing poverty, mobility and overcrowding) Friendship is next to the bottom in achievement in both reading and mathematics for African-American students. But instead of seeking changes in instruction at the classroom level, The Press was touting a program of tutoring by parents as the way to solve this problem of learning. On Dec. 3, The Press printed an editorial praising Madison Elementary School for its high achievement. Madison was No.

1 in achievement in 1991 even though it is 98 percent black, 78 percent poor and 59.1 percent of its children live in single, female-headed households, 39 percent with both parents. In this stingy editorial, The Press claimed that the overriding variable contributing to this outcome was discipline, not the highly structured instructional practices designed specifically to fit the needs of these youngsters. Now comes the April 20 Press offering excuses for their pitiful performance to the principal and teachers of Weil Elementary, which is at the bottom in achievement in reading and mathematics for African-American students. Just around the corner and up the Hill is Vann Elementary School, with nearly the same demographic data as Weil (99 percent black, 80 percent poor, 19 percent living with both parents, 69 percent living in single, female-headed homes). Yet 70 percent, of Vann's students scored at or above the national norm on the CAT in reading in 1991, while 25 percent of Weil's did so, and 90 percent of Vann's students scored at or above the national norm in mathematics, compared to 39 percent of Weil's students.

You should have sought comments from the principals of Madison and Vann on the meaning of this decline in two-parent house-' holds. Obviously they know more about how to solve the problem caused by the same factors in the classroom. BARBARA A SIZEMORE Oakland (The writer is a professor in the Department of Black Community Education Research and Development, University of Pittsburgh.) Jobs for losing pols I'm sure U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter, isn't too concerned about the November election.

Should he lose to Democrat Lynn Yeakel, President Bush will find him a cushy job, Eerhaps at the United Nations, as did for Dick Thomburgh. Even though the people speak through their votes, the "good ol' boys" club will take care of its own. D. MILLER -North Hills Birthing switch I read a most interesting quote in the April 23 "Briefly Saitf' section of your editorial page. It was made by a John Saffire, an anti-abortion demonstrator in Buffalo.

For those who missed this gem, please allow me to quote him. "I've just had a baby. It's the best thing that ever happened to me. She's beautiful. These (abortion rights) people have- earrings in their noses! for one, would like to know A list of things American parents worry about usually begins with the question: Are my children getting a good education? Parents know intuitively that the quality of schooling from kindergarten through college will strongly influence their children's futures.

Politicians are well aware of parental anxiety, especially during a presidential election year. So brace yourself for a barrage of rhetoric from President Bush, who campaigns as the education president and from Bill Clinton, who's been deeply involved in education reform as governor of Arkansas. They're likely to create the misleading impression that if elected or re-elected president they can make great educational improvements in this country. That's simply not the case. It's time to recognize that education, with the exception of special programs for the disadvantaged (such as Head Start for preschool children), is essentially a state not a federal responsibility.

The issues are these: How can we get schools to try new approaches? How do we recruit better teachers? How can we present parents a wider choice of schools? How can we give poor children the same opportunities as children in affluent suburbs, where spending per student can be, and in many cases is, twice as high? More than half the states have been sued for failure to properly educate every student In at least four states Texas, New Jersey, Kentucky and Montana the courts have struck down school finance systems that relied too heavily on local property taxes. To its credit Kentucky has made prompt and sweeping changes in how its schools are operated. In an effort to help poor districts, the state share of school spending has risen nationally to 50 percent while the local share has fallen to 44 percent Only 6 percent comes from Washington. Presidents are not powerless. They can set education goals, as Mr.

Bush, in conjunction with the nation's governors, has laudably done. They can propose experiments. They can rally the troops. But the crucial battles for public education will be fought in state legislatures and on local school boards, not in presidential election campaigns. Locking up the jail funds Getting the big picture further complication, the state, even if it does approve a grant for Allegheny County, may not provide the funds at the outset but may wait until construction is completed and then reimburse the county.

In either case, the county will be left holding an empty money bag once it spends the $67.2 million it borrowed as its share of the cost. The result could be a further construction delay. As we see it two more months' wait for a decision on the grant isn't all that critical. What is important is that the county get the entire $67 million it needs and that it be granted up front And that's where the talking and arm-twisting powers of the three commissioners and the county's Harrisburg delegation come in. The Allegheny County commissioners and the county's legislative delegation have a bit of talking and arm-twisting to do $67 million worth.

They need to talk the state Department of Corrections into coming through with that much money to help pay for the new county jail that a federal court judge ordered built to relieve overcrowding in the old lockup. The new jail, which was supposed to be completed by next month but which is now two years behind schedule, will cost $134 million. The county expected to get half the cost from a matching-grant fund set up by the Legislature for jail construction around the state. I But the state won't promise; the money and won't disburse the grants until after the application period ends on June 30. In a CALVIN TRILLIN Berry's World When I read that a Republican contributor can get his picture taken with President Bush for $92,000, I couldn't help wondering what would happen if the picture didn't come out very well.

I'm not talking now about one of those all-black pictures you sometimes find in the envelope when you pick up your vacation snapshots at the drugstore. For taking a shot worth nearly a hundred grand, the party can afford to hire a professional photographer whose pictures come out every time. No, what I worry about is the guy who coughs up $92,000 to get his picture taken with the president and then finds that the picture makes him look like a geek I'm assuming here that the president is not going to pull that old sixth-grade class-picture trick of holding up his second and fifth fingers behind the head of the person next to him in order to approximate homs. Let's say that he approaches this $92,000 picture in a businesslike manner As he's introduced to the fat cat, he shakes hands, mumbles some pleasantries and smiles sincerely toward the camera. The shutter clicks.

The bulb flashes. The photographer says, "Thank you, Mr. President" As one aide escorts the next fat cat toward Mr. Bush, another aide manages to break the first fat cat's grip on the president's hand and leads him away, assuring him that the picture will arrive within the week. (The fat cat hardly hears this, since he is still talking about how the foundation of the new world order could be assured with two or three more tax breaks for the real-estate industry.) I time the entire courtship practice in which the sweethearts spent the night in the same bed fully clothed.

In the new custom called bundling, you get to have your picture taken with the president. After Brylcreem Bob returns to Toledo, he loses no opportunity to recall his visit with the president. When someone says "nice seeing you" to Bob, he says, "Funny, that's what George Bush said to me the other dav, when I was leaving." In a few days, Brylcreem Bob knows, he won't need such conversational openings; he'll have the picture on the wall right behind the desk. Sure enough, just five days after the picture-taken session, the photograph arrives. It's signed personally by George Bush.

It's sharp and clear. Brylcreem Bob looks like a geek He has an idiotic grin on his face. His eyes are almost closed. Staring at the picture, Brylcreem Bob realizes that the natural response to it would be "Is that Bush at a rehab center, or what?" What to do? Brylcreem Bob phones the Republican National Committee. He says that, although he realizes that the president is a busy man, he would certainly appreciate another photo opportunity.

After all, it would only be a matter of 15 seconds of the president's time. No problem, the fund-raiser on the other end says. Just send in another check for $92,000. Brylcreem Bob is outraged. "Just a minute," he says.

"What are we buying here?" What indeed (Calvin Trillin, a reporter for The New Yorker, writes his "Uncivil Liberties" column weekly.) 1' 3pl 1 HOUSE ETHICS BRIEFLY SMB "It's true that you are Just as dead if you are killed by an organized gang or a copycat gang." City Police Chief-designate Earl Buford, saying Pittsburgh's youth gangs imitate, but are not affiliated with, national gangs like the Crips and Bloods. "The women of America are now going to be treated as adults." U.S. Rep. Patricia Schroeder after the House voted to overturn the Bush administration's "gag rule" forbidding family-planning clinics from providing counseling on abortion. "I don't think people will say let's elect someone solely on the basis of gender." U.S.

Sen. Arlen Specter, on his upcoming general election showdown with political newcomer Lynn Yeakel of Delaware County. "With even more careful oversight, we're going to save a lot more." Vice President Dan Quayle, on cutting red-tape costs through the administration's moratorium on federal regulations. operation at around 15 seconds, which means that the Republicans are raising money at a rate of $368,000 a minute. So far, so good.

But let's say that one of the fat cats is caught in the middle of a blink. That happens, even with the best photographers. I think of the unlucky fat cat as a CEO we can call Robert Smith known to his employees, behind his back, as Brylcreem Bob Smith, since he is the single vainest human being in Toledo, Ohio. Brylcreem Bob, the head of a real-estate development firm, contributed $103,000 to the Republican Party. Actually, very little of that was his own money.

The executives of his company were asked to make "voluntary contributions," all of which were bound together in a process political fund-raisers now call bundling. In 18th century New England, bundling used to mean a.