The dismal CRCT (Criterion Referenced Competency Tests) scores of so many Gwinnett students should have been a wake-up call to administrators, teachers and parents. Improvements are needed, whether it be in better teacher training, less classroom grade inflation or a more challenging curriculum to better prepare students for standardized tests.

Instead, the school board comes up with excuses. Actions, not excuses, are needed if Gwinnett students are to compete in the national and world arena.

CYNTHIA BABKA

Suwanee

Congress different from ordinary folks

As gas prices rise, ordinary people stay home to save money. Congress, meanwhile, is off on another break. I thought you had to do something to get a break.

So what happened to all of those great accomplishments we were promised when the Democrats took over? Can you name one? If it doesn't involve raising taxes, condemning the war or increasing the size of government, they're not interested. You'd think that even this Congress would know that when it comes to gas, it's not a good idea to sit on your hands.

DERYL DUNCAN

Lawrenceville

Support better roads and MARTA in Gwinnett County

There are two key questions on Tuesday's ballot. One has to do with the Redevelopment Powers Act. We need to support this, as it would provide for better roads, bridges and sidewalks.

Supporting this Act would enable bonds to be sold —- guaranteed only by additional tax revenue generated by properties in the designated Tax Allocation District.

We all gain from better infrastructure and more tax revenue. The money would go to the county once the bonds are paid off in, on average, less than 10 years.

The other item on the ballot that requires your support is the survey question on extending MARTA to Gwinnett.

Metropolitan areas around the country are building mass transit systems as they have realized that we can not pave our way out of traffic.

ART SHELDON

Duluth