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A high school's mission statement used to be to prepare students for the workplace by providing them with the skills needed to be productive members of society. The library was and is a knowledge resource center. With the decline in our school's ability to train students in skills which will allow them to earn a living, it seems that the library is taking over that role. The Industrial Arts department in schools- shop classes, are being replaced by other subjects which may be enriching but don't seem to help the students get jobs. The drafting, print shop, metal shop, and wood shop provided entry level skills so that our students could get jobs if they chose not to go to college. Since the schools and the library are both supported by our taxes, I suggest that both organizations get together and decide who will become the provider of job skills. When this is decided, we can spend our tax dollars on the institution that best supports our needs. I applaud the library for responding to the needs of our city and caring about the employability of our kids.

BARRY GAGE

Sandpoint