I am really confused. We, as taxpayers in Lewiston-Auburn, pay a fair tax and a very large chunk of that goes to the school department – more than half.

I am a grandparent, with no children at home, but I hear things from my daughter that anger me.

I hear that children have to pay for pens, pencils, paper and books, and that some first- and fourth-graders have to buy red pencils and pens so the teachers can correct the work.

Come on, that’s crazy!

Isn’t it bad enough that our schools don’t have many athletes or future Olympians because parents have to pay for equipment and uniforms and for someone to teach and coach them?

Just what does the money go for?

I’m from out West, and the schools I see here are terrible; nothing I’d brag about going to. I went to Pennell Institute in 1961 and, when I went back West, I’d make up a name so people wouldn’t think I was from a nuthouse.

Why aren’t our schools run as they used to be run? School departments get more than enough money. Where does it go? It sure isn’t used on the children.

Someone ought to investigate how and what school department officials do with the money.

It’s too bad to have children in Maine who can’t enjoy sports and activities in their schools because they lack money at home and know they’ll never be a star because they’re from Maine.

Freeman Lewis, Lewiston