Letters: Jan. 31, 1983

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Our rigorous definitions result in considerably higher figures than are customarily applied. But we believe our approach is valid in the current situation. In reality, however, we would not reduce a country's credit standing solely to a set of numbers, without considering other factors as well.

Rimmer de Vries

Senior Vice President

Morgan Guaranty Trust Co.

New York City

I was so alarmed by the operations of the banking business that I have decided to keep my extra cash in a purse hung around my dog's neck.

Paul Pugliese

Long Branch, N.J.

Crumbling America

If we are going to salvage what is left of America's roads, bridges, dams and sewers [Jan. 10], let us kill two birds with one stone. We should put every able-bodied person receiving welfare or unemployment benefits to work on this project. We would be restoring a sense of pride to the jobless who want to work and getting our money's worth from those who want only a handout.

Gregg D. Merksamer

Scarsdale, N. Y.

The 78-year-old Arch Bridge linking Bellows Falls, Vt., and North Walpole, N.H., was declared unsafe eleven years ago. It was supposed to be dropped into the Connecticut River last December. After five explosive blasts, the span still stood, much to the chagrin of the demolition crew. It was made of a superior-strength steel. I hope that the experts will check to see if the other condemned bridges are made of quality steel and can be repaired rather than replaced.

Mrs. Peter D. Koson

Alstead, N.H.

Christian Schools

The scholastic success of Christian schools [Jan. 10], while admirable, is due more to their strict discipline than to their religious orientation. Rather than allow children to be brainwashed by the creationist teachings of fundamentalists, we should attack permissiveness in our public schools and restore that system to what it should be: secular but quality education.

Robert D. Lindskog

Bloomington, Minn.

Scores are higher in the Christian schools for a few reasons. Parents take an interest in their child's performance, the school may expel a student for the slightest offense, corporal punishment is permitted, and the dregs of society are not admitted. Public schools must offer an education to everyone who walks through the door. A diverse student body will never score as high as a small homogeneous group.

Max Hunsicker

Mount Gretna, Pa.

Proponents of fundamentalist schools have forgotten one of the basic teachings of the Bible, which is that the Christian is to respect and obey the government. In taking an arrogant, self-righteous position, the supporters of Christian schools not only reproach the Bible, but insult those who work in the public schools. The public system does work, but it works better when we stay to build rather than when we desert to experiment.

William Mitchell Murphy, Principal

Eugene Field Elementary School

Poplar Bluff, Mo.

Rock-'n'-Roll Deb

"Haute decadence" is my opinion of Cornelia Guest and her debut as a rock performer [Jan. 10]. It is tragic that again it is "fashionable to flaunt the traditional, frivolous perquisites of wealth and class."

William David Taylor