Peter Espeut's column 'Ad hominem argument' is interesting and thoughtful. What is moral is a complex issue because morality is not static. It is society that determines the parameters of morality.

Most civilised societies have decided that some acts so shock the conscience that they can never be moral. Obviously, this is not the case with homosexuality and this form of sexual activity will become acceptable under the flag of human rights. There are exceptions (loopholes) to every moral standard.

The Bible teaches us not to kill unless we do so to uphold the law or to fight just wars. If there is an ultimate truth, mankind is still searching for it.

- R Oscar Lofters

lofters1@aol.com

Granville Valentine, defeated People's National Party (PNP) candidate in the recently held North East St Catherine by-election, announced on radio prior to the election that he did not need financial resources to fight and increase his chances of winning the election.

Yet, his post-election analysis of his resounding defeat by the Jamaica Labour Party's Gregory Mair is dominated with complaints accusing the governing party of tactically using its command of state resources unfairly to its advantage to deny him and the PNP victory.

What a confusion in political thought and tactics? What an indictment on the strategic posturing of the current leadership of the Opposition party? Is it any wonder there was a 'political massacre' in North East St Catherine?

- Everton Pryce

PO Box 3002

Kingston 8.

I suggest that perhaps we would get better results from our education system if we reorganised the classrooms. Grade one should not have more than 15 children to one teacher for individual attention. Grade two could have 20-25 children per class, grade three, 30 children, grade five, 35, and grade six, 40-45.

We are always focusing on the teachers' performance without taking other things into consideration. There are serious problems facing school plants like those built to accommodate 600 children now housing in excess of 1,000; each child not having the recommended square footage within which to operate; and the inability to provide remedial programmes for slow learners.

Greater emphasis is needed in the placing of highly skilled and trained persons in the early childhood institutions so that the children get the best start possible.

I believe the teachers are doing the best with what they have been given, and now need to be afforded the opportunity to give to each child in his/her care the individual attention needed to shine.

- D.S.

Kingston 19