TO THE EDITOR: In Bob Herbert's syndicated column in Saturday's Enquirer ("City soap opera: The young and the jobless," ) he comments on joblessness among out-of-school youths and states that Washington response has to been to slash and/or eliminate the "few struggling programs aimed at bolstering youth employment and training."

It seems we already have such programs for employment and training in place - they're called schools. I don't feel the taxpayer should be asked to raise taxes to pay for new or remodeled schools and, in addition, pay for employment and training programs. This is certainly a duplication of services, neither of which are being used by their intended audience.

Fix the dropout problem first; chances are you'll go a long way toward fixing the training and employment problem.

Elaine Davis, Sycamore Township

San Francisco more vibrant than Cincinnati

A letter in the Feb.8 Enquirer said that in adding sexual orientation to the hate crimes law, City Council was making Cincinnati the "San Francisco of the Midwest." As if that would be a bad thing.

Let me ask, "Which city is considered more vibrant? More successful? More likely to continue to prosper?"

There may be several reasons why San Francisco is the answer, but a reputation for tolerance and diversity certainly is one of them. Congratulations, Council, for one step in the correct direction.

John C. Brennan, Clifton

Homeowners bear school tax burden

Once again, the Cincinnati Board of Education will have a bond issue on the May ballot to support the Cincinnati Public Schools. Taxpayers voted down such an issue the last election. Apparently, the Board of Education didn't take us seriously. The voters of Hamilton County were quick to vote in a sales tax for the support of two new stadiums. Whenever they want money for new schools, they put the burden on homeowners. We are really getting tired of this way of raising money. Has the board ever considered a sales tax so everyone can contribute to education, not just homeowners?

Helen Strack, Price Hill

N. Ky. Summer theatre looks bright

In the Feb. 6 edition of the Enquirer's Tempo section, Jackie Demaline declared the "summer theatre picture is bleak." We were surprised to hear this at Northern Kentucky University's Summer Dinner Theatre, because we are preparing for our 20th summer season complete with two fully mounted comedies and a musical.

For the past two years, NKU's professional Summer Dinner Theatre has sold out its entire season resulting in a need to extend the length of our runs.

Our audience members have come to trust the high quality of our productions, as well as the excellent service and well-prepared meals. So, to those who might perceive the Greater Cincinnati summer theatre season as bleak, look to the south; our summer dinner theatre forecast is sunnier than ever.

Ken Jones, Artistic director, NKU Summer Dinner Theatre

Miami's image has been tarnished

Paul Daugherty does a fine job of "rehabilitating" the Miami coach Jon Wauford in his Feb. 8 column. Not indicated was the fact that Wauford was one of several of Miami's finest who blew their cool that day. Not seen on national television was the destruction of the press box and of the visiting players' locker room.

Sure, Wauford appears to be a lightning rod for the entire group's actions, but Miami should rehabilitate its own image. Miami paid to repair the damages. The loss of decorum by the team that day caused Miami University great loss of image and reduced them to just another group of classless hooligan's who couldn't lose gracefully.

Remember the "Woody Hayes incident," which cost him his Ohio State University head coach job? Woody once coached at Miami. Did Wauford expect to fare better than the deified Woody?

Larry Hawkins, Withamsville

CSO can help world make sense

In these trying and uncertain times, mankind is again called to turn inward and examine its basic values. War? Peace? Suspicion of the other? Universal humanity? These questions will not go away. This weekend citizens of Cincinnati have an opportunity to step back and contemplate these transcendental questions by listening to one of our most sublime musical poets, Franz Schmidt. The CSO, under the baton of guest conductor Jakov Kreizberg, will perform the Cincinnati premier of Franz Schmidt's Fourth Symphony.

This work, composed in 1932, ranks with the Richard Strauss' "Metamorphosen," echoing Beethoven's Third and Ninth Symphonies, as an emblem of the agonies of it respective era. No funeral march, neither Mahler's, nor Beethoven's, surpasses the sublime humanity of the second movement of Schmidt's FourthThose who listen to this incomparable work and expose themselves to its voice risk confronting the humanity that unites all mankind. One can only hope that such feelings will infect the political culture of our country.

Edward C. Nowacki, Associate Professor of Music, College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati

How will truant parents be graded?

I had to laugh when I read the article "Schools might grade parents" (Feb. 7). According to the article, the goal is to make sure parents are sending their kids to school ready to learn and keeping on top of their academic progress.

Quoting the article, "We know that all types of research show that it's more likely that students who have parents who are involved are more successful in school." This would be easy for teachers to grade most parents in the CPS system.

I can see it now. Many of the parents would be graded "U" for unexcused absence or "T" for truancy in skipping school responsibilities altogether.

Jim Griess, Anderson Township