Assistants

Regarding classroom assistants: I want to clarify that teachers do not get assistants. I am there to assist the students in the classroom. We can do the work of a teacher at a much reduced rate of pay.

Vacations

Talking about the cost of trying to go on vacation in this economy. It is ridiculous the amount of money hotels and motels are charging. All their CEOs are making big bucks.

Social promotion

I wonder what Haverhill School Committee member Scott Wood is talking about if he doesn't know about social promotion. He went to the Haverhill Public Schools, so he should know that on every report card it says "assigned to grade ..." or "promoted to ..." Students who cannot meet the standards get a social promotion. They would be "assigned to" the next grade, not "promoted."

Lost vote

This message is for the mayor of Methuen: You are an elected official and your behavior toward a citizen and taxpayer described in last Sunday's paper was wrong. You need to remember who made you mayor and that is the voters and taxpayers of Methuen. The November election is fast approaching. I will not be voting for you this time.

Fire station

I'm calling in reference to the Haverhill fire station being closed, the one in Bradford. I don't know where the mayor is getting the money to put on the fireworks display. I'm a retired military veteran and I'm 75 and I still love to watch fireworks. But I feel the money being spent could be put to better use to keep the fire stations open, which to me is a matter of safety.

No more rain

Would someone please call President Obama and ask him to please make it stop raining?

Test everyone

The safest way to handle driving is to test everyone. Every licensed driver should be tested every five years and as necessary, the elderly, every two years. It should be handled fairly.

Roller coaster

Remember the roller coaster at Salisbury Beach? Take a ride on Haverhill's North Avenue from the beginning to the New Hampshire line. It will bring back a lot of memories.

Bigger worries

Some people said that they are worried about North Korea. Please get your heads out of the sand. The worries are right here in the U.S. Our biggest worries right now are unemployment, jobs, prices going up when they should be going down because of the unemployment rate. The same with taxes. One of the biggest worries of all is the fact that Bush's war is taking most of the money that goes out of this country. We have enough problems here to last us and forget about other countries until we get out of this mess — if we ever will.

Graduations

In answer to the caller about all the graduations: This caller must be living in the stone ages. The children are completing their young years as smart little boys and girls. Parents and friends get together to celebrate a wonderful thing. And it makes the child feel good.

Take the test

I am a 46-year-old man, who is hoping to live long enough to see flying cars. No one really wants to take seniors' licenses away. All we are concerned about is whatever age you are, whether you still have the skills it takes to drive safely. The state needs to protect everyone, including yourselves. I know no one who is upset at this would like to find out he or she should not be driving because they accidentally killed someone. Take the test. If you pass it, it is a moot point.